Air Force Veteran Gives His 40th Gallon Of Blood During An Emergency Blood Shortage - 07/22/26
Air Force Veteran Gives His 40th Gallon of Blood During an Emergency Blood Shortage
Come meet Ken Dale as he makes a blood donation during a nation-wide emergency blood shortage and hits his 40th gallon!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[PORTLAND, JULY 23rd, 2026]
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What: 40th Gallon Donation
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When: July 25. Donation time 10am. Media invited to attend from 9:30 to 11am.
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Where: Living Savior Lutheran Church; 8740 SW Sagert St., Tualatin, OR 97062
It’s not every day you get to meet a local hero like Ken Dale. He’s full of humor, determination, and a life-saving spirit. He continues to donate to this day because of a very memorable first experience:
His father had been an avid blood donor and inspired Ken Dale to donate. At that time, anyone under the age of 21 needed written parental permission to donate. When his father dropped him off at the Red Cross blood donation center, Dale had forgotten to have him sign the release form. Inside the Red Cross donation center, “a young man working for the Red Cross drove me eight miles to my mother to have my release signed. I still remember he had a green Chevrolet Impala.” He concluded, “That act showed me how valuable every single donation is.”
Click here to read the full story about Ken.
The American Red Cross is declaring an emergency blood shortage as the blood supply fell nearly 25% in June. Blood donors are urgently needed to give now to help ensure patients receive lifesaving medical care without delay. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and types O positive and B negative blood.
The most important way to help end the blood shortage is to book an appointment to give blood now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all who come to give July 13-31, 2026, will receive a Fandango Movie Ticket by email (up to $15 ticket price and fees). Additional details can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/July.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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