CLEVELAND — As students prepare to head back to school, the American Red Cross, Cleveland Clinic and Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services are teaming up to host a Back-to-School blood drive at Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Aug. 16.
The blood drive will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Limited free street parking is available on East 6th and West Eagle Ave. Donors should enter Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse at the Cleveland-Cliffs entrance on East 6th St.
According to a release, the Cleveland Cavaliers will match the amount of dollars raised for each pint of blood collected that will earn $10 towards school supplies for the Division of Children and Family Services. Additionally, all who donate will receive a Cleveland Clinic chalkboard mug, two Mitchell’s Ice Cream scoop certificates, special refreshments, a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of your choice and a Red Cross gift, as well as an exclusive ticket offer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show On Earth, which will take place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse October 6-8.
The Red Cross noted that it has seen a decline in donations throughout the summer, making it hard to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood products. Currently, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive and type B negative blood donors to step up to help.
"Trauma patients, transplant recipients and those undergoing cancer treatment are depending on the generosity of blood donors," the Red Cross said in a statement.
Appointments can be made using the the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and entering code “ROCKET”, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.