INDIANAPOLIS — Versiti Blood Center of Indiana is asking Hoosiers to help each other by donating blood or platelets as the nonprofit looks to fill thousands of open appointments.
As of Tuesday, Versiti says there are more than 2,500 open appointments at blood drives and donation centers statewide. Donating blood takes about an hour.
"You can give me literally billions of dollars, [the] smartest scientists in the world ... and we could not create in that laboratory what someone is gonna do in a donor chair today or tomorrow," Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti, said. "Blood is life saving and we can't create it in a lab. We need volunteer donors to come up, roll up their sleeve and donate the gift of life."
Currently, Versiti anticipates the available inventory of blood to be at less than a one-day supply within the coming days; their goal is to have at least a three day supply.
They are also looking for platelet donors, which have a much shorter shelf life than blood donations. Donors of all blood types are encouraged to donate platelets.
Versiti has extended hours at its donor center locations through June 21 to provide more flexibility for donors. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. To learn more or to sign up to donate, visit Versiti's website or call 317-916-5150.
Donor center locations:
- INDIANAPOLIS: 3450 N. Meridian St.
- FISHERS: 11005 Allisonville Road
- CARMEL: 726 Adams St., Suite 150
- GREENWOOD: 8739 U.S. 31 South
- LAFAYETTE: 2200 Elmwood Ave., Suite D-16
- TERRE HAUTE: 2021 S. Third St.
Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16 to donate blood.
-
Bears mull move to Indiana as efforts to secure public funds in Illinois stall
The Chicago Bears say they're mulling a move to Northwest Indiana with their efforts to secure public funding they say they need to build an enclosed stadium in Illinois stalled.
Bloomington considers changing building codes to address affordable housing
The goal for 2026 and beyond is to open the barriers for smaller and denser housing construction in Bloomington.
New state-of-the-art facility to bring Hancock Co Career Center under one roof
The Hancock County Career Center, known as HC3, will bring career and technical training under one roof for the first time in the county’s history.
IMPD and community partners reflect on reduction in violent crime in 2025
IMPD and its community partners are reflecting on what they say is a successful year in violence reduction, as data showcases a decrease in homicides across the city