American Red Cross Asks You to Give Blood During Sickle Cell Awareness Month

The American Red Cross is asking for help to meet the needs of patients by way of blood donations during September, National Sickle Cell Awareness Month.

Sickle cell anemia is a disease that affects around 70,000 in the U.S., most of them of African descent but also some of Spanish, French, Italian, Greek and Turkish descent.

Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to form in an abnormal crescent shape. One of the most common treatments for sickle cell disease is regular blood transfusions, which can help reduce the risk of stroke, damage to major organs that can lead to severe infections, and other complications.

There is currently no cure for sickle cell disease.

It's important that blood donors reflect the ethnic diversity of the patients who receive their blood.

Patients with sickle cell disease - primarily in the African-American community - are less likely to have complications from blood donated by someone within their racial and ethnic groups.

The Red Cross is committed to maintaining a diverse base of blood donors to help ensure that all blood types are available for patients with serious medical needs.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Arkansas County

• Sept. 18 from 12-6 p.m. at Harmony Baptist Church, 910 E. 19th St. in Stuttgart, Ark.

Clark County

• Sept. 17 from 1-6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 107 N. Ninth in Arkadelphia, Ark.
• Sept. 18 from 1:30-6 p.m. at Baptist Health Medical Center, 3050 Twin Rivers Drive in Arkadelphia, Ark.
• Sept. 19 from 1:30-6 p.m. at Courtyard Gardens, 2701 Twin Rivers Drive in Arkadelphia, Ark.

Cleburne County

• Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Defiance Metals Products, 944 Bypass Road in Heber Springs, Ark.
• Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Baptist Health Medical Center, 1800 Bypass Road in Heber Springs, Ark.

Columbia County

• Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Southern Arkansas University Reynolds Bldg, 100 E. University in Magnolia, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Southern Arkansas University Reynolds Bldg, 100 E. University in Magnolia, Ark.

Conway County

• Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St Vincent Medical Center Thomas Hickey Building, 4 Hospital Drive in Morrilton, Ark.

Dallas County

• Sept. 20 from 12-6 p.m. at St. Williams Catholic Church, 404 N. Locust St. in Buffalo, Mo.

Faulkner County

• Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Human Development Center, 150 E. Siebenmorgan in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at International Paper, 730 Enterprise Ave. in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 19 from 1-5 p.m. at Acxiom, 450 Corporate Drive in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 19 from 3-7 p.m. at Knights of Columbus, 515 E. Sixth St. in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 19 from 8-11 a.m. at Snap on Equipment, 309 Exchange Ave. in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Acxiom, 301 Industrial in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at University of Central Arkansas Student Center, 201 S. Donaghey in Conway, Ark.
• Sept. 30 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vilonia United Methodist Church, 1112 Main St. in Vilonia, Ark.

Jefferson County

• Sept. 16 from 11:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church Activity Center, 8203 Dollarway Road in White Hall, Ark.
• Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 1610 W. 42nd St. in Pine Bluff, Ark.
• Sept. 23 from 12-4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 4200 Old Warren Road in Pine Bluff, Ark.
• Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 1610 W. 42nd St. in Pine Bluff, Ark.

Lincoln County

• Sept. 18 from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 200 W. Wiley in Star City, Ark.

Lonoke County

• Sept. 21 from 1-6 p.m. at Walmart, 304 S. Rockwood in Cabot, Ark.

Ouachita County

• Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Armtec, Highway 274 in East Camden, Ark.

Perry County

• Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Perryville United Methodist Church, 123 Cross St. in Perryville, Ark.

Pope County

• Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.
• Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Russellville Blood Donation Center, 1003 W. Main in Russellville, Ark.

Pulaski County

• Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Central Arkansas Christian High School, 1 Windsong in North Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 18 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St Vincent Health System, 2 St. Vincent Circle in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 21 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St Vincent Health System, 2 St. Vincent Circle in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Walmart, 2000 John Harden Drive in Jacksonville, Ark.
• Sept. 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Metro Medical Center Education Building, 1400 Braden Road in Jacksonville, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Arkansas Children's Hospital LR, 1 Children's Way in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Arvest Mortgage, 801 John Barrow Road in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Arkansas Children's Hospital LR, 1 Children's Way in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Metropolitan Vocational Tech School, 7701 Scott Hamiliton Drive in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Recreation Building, 6900 Scott Hamilton Drive in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Blue Cross Blue Shield, 601 S. Gaines in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 4548 JFK Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 28 from 12-5 p.m. at Helping Hands, 4901 N. Shore Drive in North Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 29 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St James United Methodist Church, 321 Plesant Valley Drive in Little Rock, Ark.
• Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Little Rock Blood Donation Center, 401 S. Monroe in Little Rock, Ark.

Saline County

• Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Saline Memorial Hospital, 1 Medical Park Drive in Benton, Ark.
• Sept. 23 from 1:30-6 p.m. at Walmart, 17309 Interstate 30 West and Congo Road in Benton, Ark.

Van Buren County

• Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Indian Rock Village, 265 Dave Creek Parkway in Fairfield Bay, Ark.
• Sept. 26 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shirley High School, 201 Blue Devil Drive in Shirley, Ark.

White County

• Sept. 18 from 12-6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark.
• Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at White County Medical Center, 3214 E. Race St. in Searcy, Ark.
• Sept. 21 from 12-6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark.
• Sept. 25 from 12-6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark.
• Sept. 28 from 12-6 p.m. at American Red Cross Blood Center, 1120 S. Main St. in Searcy, Ark.