March is Red Cross Month

TOLEDO - As climate disasters, blood donation needs and other emergencies upend lives, local community heroes are stepping up to care for one another.

This March, the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region is honoring those who make its mission possible during the 80th annual Red Cross Month celebration — a national tradition that began in 1943 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation.

Participate in Red Cross Month by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation, give blood or platelets, become a volunteer or take a class in lifesaving skills, such as first aid, CPR and how to use an AED. On March 22, you can also join the annual Red Cross Giving Day campaign by donating at redcross.org/givingday to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.

Area blood drives coming to Ottawa and Sandusky counties include:

Ottawa County

Marblehead - March 17, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Danbury High School, 9451 E. Harbor Road

Oak Harbor - March 21, noon to 5:30 p.m., St. John's Lutheran, 122 W. Ottawa

Port Clinton - March 10, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 50 N.E. Catawba Road; March 29, noon to 5 p.m., Port Clinton Elks, 231 Buckeye Blvd.; and March 31, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn Express, 50 N.E. Catawba Road

Williston - March 9, 1 to 6 p.m., St. John Lutheran Church, 21140 W. Toledo

Sandusky County

Clyde - March 14, noon to 6 p.m., Clyde First United Methodist Church, 510 W. Maple St.

Fremont - March 10, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., YMCA of Sandusky County, 1000 North St.; and March 29, 1:30 to 6 p.m., Fremont VFW, 204 Birchard Ave.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: March is Red Cross Month