Give what only you can: Guthrie Lourdes Hospital hosts blood drive July 2

Each summer, as schedules shift and travel picks up, blood donation rates drop — even as the need for a steady, reliable supply never does.  

Guthrie Lourdes Hospital and the American Red Cross are inviting the community to help close that gap with a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, July 2 in the Guthrie Lourdes Hospital Lecture Hall.  

The drive sets a goal of collecting 20 units of blood to support patients across the region who depend on available blood when they need it most. 

Donors are encouraged to consider a Power Red donation — a method that collects nearly twice the amount of red blood cells compared to a standard donation, while safely returning the remaining blood components to the donor. One appointment, greater impact. More information is available at RedCrossBlood.org. 

First-time donors are especially welcome. New donors are essential to sustaining the future blood supply, and organizers encourage anyone who has never given before to make July 2 their first time. 

Diverse donors play an equally vital role. Blood type compatibility is influenced by ethnic and racial background, making a wide range of donors critical to finding the best possible match for every patient.

Learn more at RedCrossBlood.org.

• WHAT: Blood drive hosted by Guthrie Lourdes Hospital and the American Red Cross