The community is encouraged to support and give blood throughout September at LifeSouth’s blood drives
WHAT:
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is asking the community to give blood throughout the month at its donor centers and scheduled blood drives to support local patients living with sickle cell disease (SCD).
SCD is a genetic blood disorder that is named for the thin, crescent-shaped red blood cells that face more difficulty passing through blood vessels than healthy, disc-shaped red blood cells. Patients with SCD may experience symptoms such as chronic fatigue, recurrent episodes of extreme pain, breathlessness and increased risk of complications such as stroke, liver disease and delayed growth. The CDC reports that SCD affects approximately 100,000 Americans. People living with SCD often need blood transfusions to increase the amount of healthy red blood cells in their bloodstream and lessen the effects of the sickle-shaped cells.
LifeSouth works with local hospitals to match SCD patients with Sickle Cell Heroes: donors whose red blood cells are precisely matched to reduce complications from blood transfusions. The best matches are likely to be found within a patient’s own ethnic group. Hospital partners include Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Baptist Medical Center South, HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, UF Health North and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
WHO:
Representatives from LifeSouth and Selena Webster-Bass with The Voices Institute can be available for interviews throughout September. To ensure availability of spokespeople, please contact Alaina Bundy with Wingard.
WHEN/WHERE:
Donor Centers:
Jacksonville Donor Center (7840 Baymeadows Way)
Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fleming Island Donor Center (1605 County Rd. 220, Unit 160)
Wednesday through Friday hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Julington Creek Donor Center (445 S.R. 13, Suite 25)
Tuesday through Friday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Scheduled blood drives:
Now through Saturday, September 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at Walmart 7075 Collins Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32244. Donors will receive a $25 e-gift card.
Monday, September 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Winston Family YMCA, 221 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Donors will receive a $20 e-gift card.
Saturday, September 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Craft Fair, 2400 Mayport Road. Donors will receive a $20 e-gift card.
Sunday, September 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jacksonville Pagan Pride Day, 715 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204, located where the Riverside Arts Market is held. Donors will receive a $20 e-gift card.
Saturday, September 30 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Brew and BBQ at James Weldon Johnson Park, 135 W Monroe St, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Live music and food will be available, and donors will receive a $20 e-gift card.
For additional information about donation or to find a blood drive near you, call LifeSouth toll-free at 888-795-2707, visit www.lifesouth.org or download the LifeSouth app. Appointments can also be made online.