Life-saving blood donations needed in September in Michigan

Versiti Blood Center of Michigan is encouraging Michigan residents to make an appointment to donate life-saving blood in September.

All blood types are needed, especially O-negative blood, which is the universal blood type given to patients in emergency situations and those undergoing surgery. Here are some of Versiti’s local community blood drives scheduled this month across Michigan:

ZEELAND
3-7 p.m. Sept. 1
First Baptist Church
246 W. Main Ave.

CLARE
Noon-6 p.m. Sept. 2
Clare Community Blood Drive
185 E. 4th St.

ROCKFORD
8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 7
Rockford area donor site at Community Cabin
220 N. Monroe St.

KENTWOOD
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 10
Kentwood area donor site at Heritage Baptist Church
1570 60th St. SE

SPARTA
1-7 p.m. Sept. 10
Sparta Area Donor Site at Sparta United Methodist
54 E. Division St.

CEDAR SPRINGS
12:30-7 p.m. Sept. 15
Cedar Springs area donor site at Cedar Springs United Methodist Church
140 S. Main St.

SANFORD
7 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 19
Sanford Community Drive at Our Lady of Grace (St. Agnes site)
2500 W. River Rd.

COOPERSVILLE
2-7 p.m. Sept. 22
Coopersville area donor site at Coopersville UMC
105 68th Ave.

HUDSONVILLE
2-6:45 p.m. Sept. 22
Fellowship Reformed Church
6610 36th Ave.

KENTWOOD
Noon-7 p.m. Sept. 24
Kentwood area donor site at Heritage Baptist Church
1570 60th St. SE

CALEDONIA
Noon-7 p.m. Sept. 28
Caledonia area donor site at American Legion #305
9548 Cherry Valley Ave. SE

LIVONIA
Noon-7 p.m. Sept. 28
Monaghan K of C Council No. 2690
19801 Farmington Road

More local community drives throughout the state can be found at versiti.org/Michigan. Michigan residents can also donate blood at any Versiti donor center:

Grand Rapids: 1036 Fuller NE
Kalamazoo Area: 524 E. Milham Ave., Portage
Saginaw: 1771 Tittabawassee Road
Traverse City: 2575 Aero Park Drive
Grandville: 3140 Wilson SW
St. Joseph: 2710 Cleveland Ave.
Bay City: 1017 N. Johnson St.
Midland: 825 E. Main St.

To ensure everyone’s safety during continuing coronavirus concerns, Versiti employees wear face masks or cloth face coverings and are temperature tested before their shifts. Donors are also temperature tested and prescreened before their donation. All donors are asked to wear their own face covering during their appointment.

Social distancing is being practiced at all Versiti blood drives throughout Indiana. Versiti is efficiently cleaning and disinfecting all facilities and equipment at all drives.

Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 1-866-642-5663 or visit Versiti online.

Versiti Blood Center of Michigan, formerly Michigan Blood, has collected blood throughout the state since 1955. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, the non-profit organization provides blood products and services to more than 80 Michigan hospitals, collects nearly 115,000 units of blood each year at eight donation centers and conducts more than 3,400 local community blood drives throughout the state.