American Red Cross announces dates and locations for upcoming Vernon County blood drives

The American Red Cross urges donors to make an appointment to give lifesaving blood or platelets in the new year to help keep the blood supply strong this winter. Type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets are especially urged to give now to keep critical blood products on the shelves for patients in need.

The start of the new year is one of the most challenging times to collect blood products as the threat of severe winter weather builds and can often lead to widespread blood drive cancellations. Additionally, an active cold and flu season may prevent people from keeping donation appointments as they rest and recover from illness. During National Blood Donor Month, the Red Cross celebrates those who generously roll up a sleeve to help save lives and urges those who are feeling well to make and keep donation appointments to help the blood supply stay on track throughout the winter.

Don’t sit on the sidelines − kick off 2025 with a blood or platelet donation. To book a time to give, visit RedCrossBlood.org, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

For the sixth year, the Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering in January for National Blood Donor Month to invite football fans and blood donors to join our lifesaving team and score big for patients in need. As a special thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give Jan. 1-26, 2025, will be automatically entered for a chance to win an exciting Super Bowl LIX giveaway. The trip includes access to day-of in-stadium pre-game activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 7-10), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses. For full details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Vernon County are as follows:

• Coon Valley: Jan. 20, 1 to 6 p.m., Coon Valley Lutheran Church, 1005 Central Ave.;
• De Soto: Jan. 28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., De Soto High School, 615 Main St.;
• Hillsboro: Feb. 5, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Hillsboro Brewing Co., 206 East Madison St.;
• Viroqua: Jan. 9, 1 to 5 p.m., Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School, 431 E Court St.; Jan. 27, 12 to 5:30 p.m., Church of Christ, 825 Nelson Pkwy;
• Westby: Jan. 16,  11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Westby Coon Prairie Church, 500 S. Main St.; Jan. 31, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Westby High School, 206 West Ave. S.