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Blood donors asked to help out during crisis

| March 21, 2020 1:00 AM

The novel coronavirus pandemic has resulted in a shortage of blood supplies in the Flathead Valley and throughout the country.

Locally, the American Red Cross center at 126 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell and Vitalant blood donation center at 2593 U.S. 2 E. in Evergreen are requesting blood donations.

Vitalant’s hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday; and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call 877- 258-4825 for further information.

The Red Cross has scheduled blood drives at the following locations:

• Trinity Lutheran Church — March 23, 1 to 6 p.m.

• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Polson — March 24, noon to 5 p.m.

• Glacier Bank, Bigfork — March 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Kalispell Elks Lodge — March 25, 10:30 a.m .to 4:30 p.m.

• Kalispell Ford — March 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• U.S. Forest Service Offices, Kalispell — March 26, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Kalispell Toyota — March 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Kalispell Blood Donation Center — March 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Call the Red Cross at 800-733-2767 for more information.

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Mike Kelly has blood drawn by collection specialist Kacey Evins during a blood drive at the American Red Cross Blood Donation Center at 126 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell on Friday. The Red Cross has increased sanitization measures and is taking temperatures of potential donors at the door due to the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve also updated their hours to remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Mike Kelly, left, and Kelly Saari have blood drawn by collection specialists Kacey Evins and Bryan Catlin during a blood drive at the American Red Cross Blood Donation Center at 126 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell on Friday. The Red Cross has increased sanitization measures and is taking temperatures of potential donors at the door due to the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve also updated their hours to remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Mike Kelly, left, and Kelly Saari have blood drawn by collection specialists Kacey Evins and Bryan Catlin during a blood drive at the American Red Cross Blood Donation Center at 126 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell on Friday. The Red Cross has increased sanitization measures and is taking temperatures of potential donors at the door due to the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve also updated their hours to remain open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)