Blood Donations Of All Types Needed In Eastern Maine

The American Red Cross is urging folks of all all races and ethnicities to donate, to create a blood supply just as diverse as they are.

We found the following story from an American Red Cross press release especially touching:

Eight-year-old AJ Torres requires blood transfusions to treat complications from sickle cell disease, the most common genetic disease in the U.S. The disease is most common among people of African descent or Latino descent, like AJ, and can sometimes cause small blood vessels to become blocked. Diverse donors are important to ensuring AJ has the blood products he needs to regain his health.

“Within minutes of receiving a blood transfusion, I watch his strength be restored, pain vanish and energy return. Soon he transforms back to himself – a rambunctious little boy,” said his mom, Caira Torres. “If an 8-year-old can withstand a needle, so can you.”

Blood of all types is urgently needed everyday here in Eastern Maine, so the American Red Cross in our section of the state has set up the following blood drives to help out.

Bangor - 10/11/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Quirk Chevorlet, 293 Hogan Rd, and on 9/24/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., SeaDog Brewing Co., 26 Front St

Belfast - 10/4/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Tarratine Tribe, 153 Main Street

Brewer - 10/3/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Brewer Rehabilitation, 74 Parkway South

Blue Hill - 10/14/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Parker Ridge, 63 Parker Ridge

Deer Isle - 10/3/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Deer Isle Stongington High School, 251 North Deer Isle Road

Eddington - 10/12/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Boy Scouts/Katadin Council, 45 Camp Roosevelt Road

Ellsworth - 10/15/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Down East Family YMCA, 238 State Street

Machias - 10/4/2019: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Machias Savings Bank Machias, 4 Center Street

Orono - 10/1/2019: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Collins Center for the Arts, 2 Flagstaff Road, and on 10/2/2019: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Collins Center for the Arts, 2 Flagstaff Road

Rockland - 9/26/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Rockland, 335 Limerock Street, and also on 9/27/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rockland Public Library, 80 Union Street

Rockport -10/15/2019: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Camden National Bank Rockport, 245 Commercial Street

Unity - 10/4/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Unity Community Market, 368 Thorndike Road

Appointments can be made by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.