During National Volunteer Month in April, the American Red Cross asks donors to help keep the blood supply stable by making an appointment to give blood now. Type O blood and platelets are especially needed to ensure hospitals are fully stocked with lifesaving blood products this spring.

The Red Cross depends on thousands of volunteer donors to collect more than 12,000 blood donations every single day. Blood drives and donation centers also depend on the generosity and valuable time of those who make it possible for the Red Cross to help people in need.

As spring travel and activities fill calendars, volunteer blood donations remain essential to critical medical care. Book a time to give blood now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

All who come to give April 14-30, 2025, will get an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win a $5,000 prize. There will be three winners. See RedCrossBlood.org/Hope.

In May, all who come to give May 1-18, 2025, will get a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. Plus, throughout May, those who come to give will be automatically entered to win a U.S. trip of choice for two. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/May.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities April 17-May 5 (WIMS area):

Elkhart County
Goshen
4/17/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/18/2025: 7 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/19/2025: 7 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/20/2025: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/21/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Goshen Hospital, 200 High Park Ave
4/21/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/22/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/23/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/24/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/25/2025: 7 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/26/2025: 7 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/27/2025: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/28/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/29/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
4/30/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
5/1/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
5/2/2025: 7 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
5/3/2025: 7 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
5/4/2025: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana
5/5/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Goshen Blood Donation Center, 1123 South Indiana

Middlebury
4/23/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Mennonite Church, 203 E. Lawrence

Nappanee
4/29/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Nappanee Missionary Church, 70417 S.R. 19 North

Jasper County
Remington
4/18/2025: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Apostolic Christian Church, 16448 S US Hwy 231

Rensselaer
4/23/2025: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Rensselaer Central High School, 1106 E Grace Street

Wheatfield
4/24/2025: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Kankakee Valley High School, 3923 West SR 10

Kosciusko County
North Webster
4/22/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., North Webster Church of God, 302 N Main

Warsaw
4/24/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Fireman’s Building, 1013 E. Arthur Street

Winona Lake
4/28/2025: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grace College Gordon Rec Center, 100 Publishers Dr.

Lake County
Crown Point
4/17/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Crown Point Community Library, 122 N. Main Street
4/19/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Texas Roadhouse, 701 E 109th Ave
4/28/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ivy Tech Crown Point, 9900 Connecticut Dr
4/29/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 250 S Indiana Ave
5/1/2025: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., St. Matthias Church, 101 W Burrell Drive

East Chicago
4/28/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Ivy Tech Community College, 410 East Columbus Drive

Gary
4/18/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., New Hope Church, 2307 Rhode Island Ct.

Hammond
4/25/2025: 7:45 a.m. – 1 p.m., Hammond Area Career Center, 5727 Sohl Avenue

Hobart
4/21/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hobart Community Center, 111 E Old Ridge Road

Lowell
5/5/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lowell Intermediate School, 19250 Cline Avenue

Merrillville
4/26/2025: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., American Red Cross, 791 E. 83rd Ave
4/27/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Holy Martyrs Parish, 801 W 73rd Avenue
4/28/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross, 791 E. 83rd Ave
5/3/2025: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 791 E. 83rd Ave

Schererville
4/28/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. John Township Community Center, 1515 Lincoln Highway
5/4/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Banquets at St. George, 528 W 77th Avenue

LaPorte County
La Porte
4/24/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., NorthWest Health La Porte Hospital, 1331 State St
4/27/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., NorthWest Health La Porte Hospital, 1331 State St

Michigan City
4/26/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., NECA/IBEW Technical Institute, 301 E 8th St

Marshall County
Culver
5/1/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Culver Academies-Schrag Leadership Buildings, 1300 Academy Rd.

Newton County
Kentland
4/22/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., South Newton High School, 13102 S 50 E

Porter County
Chesterton
5/2/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Chesterton, 2050 West 1100 North

Kouts
4/28/2025: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, 507 Rose Street

Portage
4/21/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Legion, 5675 Mulberry Avenue
4/25/2025: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ogden Dunes Volunteer Fire Department, 111 Hillcrest Road
5/2/2025: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Portage City Hall, 6070 Central Ave

Valparaiso
4/17/2025: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wheeler High School, 587 West 300 North
4/18/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Northwest Health Porter, 85 East US Hwy 6
4/18/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson Street
4/24/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Memorial Elementary School, 1052 Park Ave
4/30/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Morgan Township Volunteer Fire Department, 291-2 IN-49
5/3/2025: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Washington Evangelical Free Church, 3805 LaPorte Avenue

St Joseph County
Mishawaka
4/24/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Mishawaka High School, 1202 Lincolnway E

Notre Dame
4/29/2025: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame University, 101 Duncan Student Center

South Bend
4/21/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 53995 State Hwy 933

5/5/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 53995 State Hwy 933

Starke County
Knox
4/30/2025: 8:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Knox Community High School, 1 Redskin Trail

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Amplify your impact − volunteer!

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.