Red Cross blood drive canceled again

The American Red Cross of Monroe County has canceled a blood drive that was scheduled for July 19, according to a press release.\nThe blood drive was supposed to be held at First United Church, 2420 E. Third St. Rebecca Fuller, director of communications and marketing, said she was not sure why the blood drive was canceled, but that she did not make that decision. Fuller also said she is not sure if the cancellation had anything to do with low staff or low donor participation.\nThis is not the first time the American Red Cross of Monroe County has canceled a blood drive.\nRed Cross canceled a blood drive scheduled to be at the Army Reserve Center, 520 S. Woodcrest Dr., on May 19. When it was rescheduled to take place at College Mall, 2894 E. Third St., on May 26, that too was canceled.\nIn a May 24 IDS article, Don Creek, donor representative at the American Red Cross, said it was canceled because the last time a blood drive was held at College Mall, only three donors showed up and the mall would not let them have control of sign placement.\nAccording to www.givebloodnow.org, the overall blood supply in the River Valley Region is at urgent status. All blood types are direly needed, according to the site.\nLast year about one-third of students on campus donated blood, Creek said in the May 17 article. There were more than 50 blood drives on campus alone last school year, he said.\nThere will be another scheduled blood drive on Friday, July 27 at IU's Creative Arts Building, 2735 E. 10th St., according to the release.\nPeople at least 17 years old who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and are in good general health may be eligible to donate blood to the American Red Cross.\nTo schedule a blood donation appointment, call (800) 448-3543. All donors need to present proper identification.