Red Cross announces August blood drives for August in Austin, Mower County

The course of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, but the need for blood is not. Sue Thesenga, Communications Manager with the American Red Cross in Minnesota stated to KAUS News that the Red Cross has a continued need for donors to ensure blood is on the shelves for hospital patients, and she added that several additional safety precautions have been enacted at Red Cross blood drives to keep those donating blood and blood drive staff safe during the coronavirus pandemic….

Thesenga went on to state that the Red Cross is also in urgent need of blood drive hosts, as she indicated that approximately 80% of blood donations are hosted by businesses, schools and community organizations, many of which remain closed….

American Red Cross blood drives coming up in Austin in August include drives at the YMCA on Thursday, August 6th from 1-7 p.m. and on Friday, August 7th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Other blood drives in August in Mower County will be held in LeRoy on Wednesday, August 12th at the Community Center from 1-7 p.m., in Rose Creek on Thursday, August 13th at St. Peter’s Catholic Church from 1-7 p.m. and in Brownsdale on Tuesday, August 18th at Our Savior Lutheran Church from 1-7 p.m.  Donation appointments can be made for the coming days and weeks by downloading the free 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.