This past year has given our Community many opportunities to come together and support each other. One-way the Duneland Community has demonstrated this was it’s continuing dedication to donate blood.
Franciscan Health Fitness Centers in Chesterton has been a host site for the American Red Cross Blood Drives for the last 15+ years. As many of our community members are consistent blood donors, we sought to continue to offer blood drives during our COVID closure. On a rainy day in early May, many of you sat in your cars waiting for your turn to donate. Your dedication inspired us. Many donation locations included schools, which had not been reopened to the public. Our monthly blood drives were filling to capacity, and the need for donations continued to rise. Partnering with Trish Cochran, of The American Red Cross, we were able to increase our blood drives to be offered twice monthly. The community saw the additional offerings and began to fill those blood drives as well. As a result, 560 pints of blood were collected from this location in 2020. Each pint of blood can save up to 3 lives, resulting in potentially 1,680 patients being reached due to the Duneland Community!
“In the year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the Franciscan Health Fitness Center of Chesterton blood drives have filled the gap left by many blood drive cancellations. You doubled the number of blood drives and made a big difference in the continuing need to supply blood despite the restraints of the pandemic. The American Red Cross is supplying blood products for patients in need of transfusions, including those who need surgery, cancer treatments or trauma victims. Over the past year nationwide, we have also distributed more than 150,000 plasma products from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to help with treatment for the most seriously ill patients. On behalf of the hospitals and patients we serve, thank you for your lifesaving support.” comments Cochran.
Franciscan Health Fitness Centers Chesterton would like to thank the Duneland Community for coming together and encouraging each other to donate. The American Red Cross continues to test each donation for COVID-19 antibodies, with results sent back to the donor through their phone app. If you are interested in participating at one of our blood drives, please sign up here. Thank you, again, for the care and support you have shown to each other through blood donations. We are proud to be a part of the process!
Our next Chesterton blood drive is scheduled for Tuesday, April 20th from 9am-3pm. For an appointment go to RedCrossBlood.org.
Our Schererville location at 221 U.S. Hwy 41, will also be hosting the Versiti Blood Drive bus on Tuesday, May 11th from 3-7pm. To schedule your appointment, go to www.versiti.org/IL or call 800-786-4483. Appointments are appreciated and walk-ins are welcome.