Blood drives scheduled for Sickle Cell Awareness Month
There will be several opportunities to donate in Fayette and Westmoreland counties.
Vitalant, a nonprofit blood and biotherapy organization, will host blood drives across Fayette and Westmoreland counties throughout September to bring awareness to sickle cell disease.
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, dedicated to spreading awareness of the blood disorder that causes red blood cells to have an abnormal crescent shape and break down faster, leading to increased probability of clotting and anemia.
To manage symptoms, people living with the condition often need blood transfusions throughout their lives. Frequent transfusions can cause patients to develop antibodies, which results in a need for more closely matched blood types than the basic blood groups of A, B, AB or O.
Dr. Kenneth Ataga, Vitalant trustee and director at the Center for Sickle Cell Disease at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis, stated that patients need the closest possible donor blood match to minimize the risk of potential reactions and adverse health outcomes from donated blood.
Ataga added that sickle cell’s impact on red blood cells can lead to effects throughout the body.
“Sickle cell, because it’s a blood problem, can affect pretty much every organ system in the body,” Ataga said. “We have to match them closely with units of blood like their own red cell antigens to minimize the risk of reactions.”
According to a press release from Vitalant, only about 3% of the eligible population donates currently, and donor blood is often matched with patients of a similar ethnic background. The more donor blood that is available, the greater the likelihood of making specialized matches and helping sickle cell patients in need.
To review eligibility requirements and make an appointment, donors can visit vitalant.org, download the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877258-4825).
Donors who are opted in to Vitalant Donor Rewards can receive special thank-you gifts, and donors who give between Sept. 1-10 using the promo code LABORDAY-2026-V when scheduling will receive a $20 gift card. Donors who give throughout September can receive a glow-in-the-dark T-shirt for Halloween.
Upcoming blood drives
FAYETTE COUNTY
Brownsville
Wednesday, Sept. 16 Masonic Lodge 60, Brownsville Social Hall, 135 High St., 2-7 p.m.
Perryopolis
Tuesday, Sept. 15 Frazier High School gym, 142 Constitution St., 7:30-11:30 a.m.
Uniontown
Thursday, Sept. 24 Laurel Highlands High School gymnasium, 300 Bailey Ave., 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28 CTI-Fayette County Career Technical Institute/Electrical Construction Shop, 175 Georges Fairchance Road, 8-10:30 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 28
CTI-Fayette County Career Technical Institute cafeteria, 175 Georges Fairchance Road, noon-2 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 30 CTI-Fayette County Career Technical Institute electrical construction shop, 175 Georges Fairchance Road, 8-10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 30
CTI-Fayette County Career Technical Institute cafeteria, 175 Georges
Fairchance Road, noon-2 p.m.
WESTMORELAND COUNTY
Greensburg
Wednesday, Sept. 2 Seton Hill University – McKenna Center, 1 Seton Hill Drive, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Irwin
Wednesday, Sept. 9 Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group, 12900 US 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 27
Norwin Christian Church, 9610 Barnes Lake Road, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Latrobe
Wednesday, Sept. 23 St Vincent College, first floor, Carey Lounge, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Mount Pleasant
Thursday, Sept. 3 Mt Pleasant High School – junior high gym, 265 State St., 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m.
Rostraver Township
Wednesday, Sept. 30 Belle Vernon Area High School gymnasium, 425 Crest Ave., 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
New Kensington
Saturday, Sept. 26 Masonic Lodge 789, Lower Burrell banquet room, 118 Allen St., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
