March is Red Cross Month and what better way to celebrate than by participating in the upcoming CALS blood drive and donating blood! 

The CALS Wellness Committee is aiming to host two blood drives each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. Our spring date is Monday, Mar. 6. The blood drive will be from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the basement of the Agricultural Engineering Building, home of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, located at 460 Henry Mall. 

Donate blood, sign-up to help for an hour, or volunteer to bake something for the canteen. There are many ways to contribute and you’ll feel good no matter which option you choose! To sign-up to donate blood, go to the Red Cross website: https://www.redcrossblood.org/, and use sponsor code UWCALS.

If you are not able to donate blood and would like to assist with the event, there are volunteer slots available from 9am-4pm. If you wish to sign-up to assist the day of the blood drive with unloading the truck, at the registration table, end of day clean-up, or baking something for the canteen, please reach out to Kristin Carroll at kristin.carroll@wisc.edu. 

Here are a few things to know:

• You can give blood after having COVID-19 if it’s been 10 days since your diagnosis AND you have been symptom-free for 10 days. 
• FOR DRIVES MARCH 1-31: There’s a “Lend an arm; we’ll lend a hand” incentive! All who give blood in March will receive a $10 Visa^® Prepaid Card by email from the Red Cross. Plus, donors will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $3,000 Visa Prepaid Card to help with gas or grocery expenses. There will be five lucky winners. Terms apply, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Help.

Click on the video below for a message from Charlie Berens, host of Manitowoc Minute, encouraging students (and everybody!) to donate blood.