In honor of Black History Month this February, and in the spirit of Dr. Charles Drew, an African-American surgeon who was the first medical director of the American Red Cross and a modern blood-banking pioneer, eligible donors as diverse as the patients who need their blood donations are encouraged to give blood to ensure a sufficient blood supply.

Blood from a donor with a similar ethnic background as that of the patient is less likely to cause complications, particularly for those patients whose chronic conditions require repeated transfusions. Sickle cell disease is one such chronic condition affecting as many as 100,000 people in the United States.

Prior to transfusion, blood type and Rh factor are matched between donated blood and the patient in need. In some cases, additional red cell markers in donated blood must be matched, as well. These markers are best found in blood from donors of a similar ethnicity.

With seasonal flu and inclement winter weather preventing many regular donors from giving, the Red Cross urges healthy, eligible donors to make an appointment to donate blood in the coming days and weeks. All blood types are currently needed to help maintain a diverse and sufficient blood supply, especially types O negative, A negative and B negative.

To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call (800) RED CROSS ((800) 733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

Elkhart County

• Monday, Feb. 2 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., York Elementary School, 13549 SR 120, Bristol.
• Thursday, Feb. 5 from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Faith United Methodist Church, 22045 C.R.18, Goshen.
• Friday, Feb. 6 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Redeemer ELCA, 3300 Benham Ave., Elkhart.
• Monday, Feb. 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1011 South Indiana Ave., Goshen.
• Friday, Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., IU Health Goshen Hospital, 200 High Park Ave., Goshen.

Kosciusko County

• Sunday, Feb. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 424 West Market, Warsaw.
• Tuesday, Feb. 3 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., North Webster Church of God, 302 N. Main, North Webster.
• Wednesday, Feb. 4 from noon to 5:30 p.m., Etna Green United Methodist Church, 131 West Broadway St., Etna Green.
• Saturday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lowe’s, 2495 Jalynn St., Warsaw.
• Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Center Lake Pavilion, 117 Canal St., Warsaw.
• Saturday, Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wal-mart, 2501 Walton Blvd., Warsaw.

LaGrange County

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., KZ-RV, 0985 N 900 W, Shipshewana.
• Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., LaGrange First Church of God, 777 N. Detroit St., Lagrange.

Marshall County

• Monday, Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ancilla College Administration Building, 9601 S Union, Donaldson.

St Joseph County

• Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saint Mary’s College, 220 Student Center, Notre Dame.
• Friday, Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Vincent Office Building, 54515 State Rd. 933 North, Notre Dame.

The Goshen Donor Center, located at 1123 S. Indiana Ave., in Goshen, is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday.