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Salem’s Red Cross moves into Hawthorne Avenue location

The American Red Cross in Salem has moved its services to a building on Hawthorne Avenue. (Courtesy Red Cross Cascades Region)

American Red Cross’s Blood Donation Center in Salem and its local offices are moving into the same building.

The new space, located on 1860 Hawthorne Ave. N.E., will house disaster relief operations and support for armed forces, as well. The property was purchased by the Red Cross for more than $2 million in June last year.

Red Cross spokesman Chad Carter said the move puts everything under one roof.

In an email Carter wrote, “Neither of the two previous buildings were large enough to accommodate all activities, so the (new) location was selected to become the new home of the Red Cross in Salem.”

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He said it makes access easier and less confusing for people.

The former Red Cross building on 675 Orchard Heights Road N.W. is now up for sale, Carter said. That property is valued at $925,500, according to Polk County property records.

The former blood donation center on Cottage Street was a leased facility.

Dale Kunce, CEO of the American Red Cross Cascades Region, said the centralized location will be more convenient for volunteers and community members.

“The new Salem office will be the home base for disaster relief operations; will offer training rooms to provide first aid, CPR and AED certification courses; and will support blood collection to ensure we maintain a safe and stable blood supply for patients in need,” Kunce said in a press release.

The Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at its new location Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

Have a tip? Contact reporter Saphara Harrell at 503-549-6250, [email protected] or @daisysaphara.