Gift cards, chance at $5K for those who come to give during national shortage
Since announcing a national blood and platelet shortage a month ago, thousands of donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to help rebuild the American Red Cross blood and platelet supply. As that generosity continues, the Red Cross is working around-the-clock to ensure patients have access to lifesaving transfusions and must collect 10,000 additional blood and platelet donations – over and above expectations – each week over the next month to sufficiently meet hospital needs. Donors of all blood types are urged to book a time to give now, especially those with type O blood or those giving platelets.
Don’t wait – patients are counting on critical care this fall. To make an appointment, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
To encourage more blood and platelet donations, the Red Cross is offering new incentives to donors over the next month. All who come to give Oct. 21-Nov. 9 will receive a $10 gift card by email to a restaurant merchant of their choice to enjoy lunch on the Red Cross. They’ll also be automatically entered to win a $5,000 gift card. There will be three lucky winners – one chosen at random each week. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Lunch.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines don’t affect donor eligibility
As cold and flu season quickly approaches, the Red Cross is reminding donors that they can still give blood or platelets after receiving a flu vaccine, so long as they are feeling healthy and well on the day of their donation. Likewise, there is no deferral or wait time for those receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities October 21st through November 9th:
Bamberg
11/7/2023: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Baptist Church Bamberg, 11823 Heritage Hwy
Blackville
10/21/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Macedonia Baptist Church, 3472 Dexter St.
Camden
10/23/2023: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., MUSC Health Kershaw Medical Center, 1315 Roberts Street
11/1/2023: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Camden High School, 1022 Ehrenclou Drive
11/5/2023: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 1709 Lyttleton Street
11/6/2023: 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Camden Military Academy, 520 Hwy 1 North
Elgin
11/9/2023: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Bridge Creek Elementary School, 121 Bombing Range Road
Lugoff
10/25/2023: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lugoff- Elgin High School, 1284 Highway 1 South
Chapin
10/23/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Chapin Baptist Church, 950 Old Lexington Hwy
11/6/2023: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Chapin Presbyterian Church, 600 Old Lexington Hwy
11/9/2023: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Chapin Branch Library, 129 Columbia Ave
Columbia
11/3/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Lexington County Public Library, 6251 St. Andrews Road
11/9/2023: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Harbison Recreation Center, 106 Hillpine Rd
Leesville
11/2/2023: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Leesville United Methodist Church, 510 E. Columbia Ave.
Lexington
10/22/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Chickawa Outdoor Center, 629 Chickawa Drive
11/6/2023: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Lexington United Methodist Church, 309 East Main St.
West Columbia
10/23/2023: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., St. David Lutheran Church, 132 Saint David’s Church Rd.
11/9/2023: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., SC Emergency Management Division, 2779 Fish Hatchery Rd.
Columbia
10/21/2023: 6:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/22/2023: 6:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/23/2023: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fort Jackson Community Moncrief, 4500 Ft Jackson, MAHC Building 4th floor MPR
10/23/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/24/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/25/2023: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Brookland Baptist Church Northeast, 1203 Summit Parkway
10/25/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/26/2023: 9:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/26/2023: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Columbia International University, 7435 Monticello Road
10/27/2023: 6:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/27/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Columbia High School, 1701 Westchester Drive
10/28/2023: 6:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/29/2023: 6:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/29/2023: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Our Lady Of The Hills Catholic Church, 120 Marydale Lane
10/30/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
10/31/2023: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., SC Probation, Parole & Pardon Services, 293 Greystone Blvd
10/31/2023: 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Meridian Building, 1320 Main Street
10/31/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/1/2023: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Sandlapper Elementary School, 1001 Longtown Road E
11/1/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/2/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lexington Medical Center Northeast, 3016 Longtown Commons Dr.
11/2/2023: 9:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/3/2023: 6:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/4/2023: 6:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/5/2023: 6:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/5/2023: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Christian Faith Fellowship, 2625 Alpine Road
11/6/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/7/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/7/2023: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, 7 Richland Medical Park Drive
11/8/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
11/9/2023: 9:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St
Hopkins
11/1/2023: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lower Richland High School, 2615 Lower Richland Blvd
Irmo
10/27/2023: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ballentine Community Center, 1009 Bickley Rd.
10/28/2023: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Harley Haven, 941 Western Lane
Sumter
10/24/2023: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Central Carolina Technical College, 506 N. Guignard Drive
10/25/2023: 8:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lakewood High School, 350 Old Manning Road
10/26/2023: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Grace Baptist Church, 219 West Calhoun St.
11/1/2023: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., 28TH OWS SHAW AFB, 428 Shaw Drive
11/2/2023: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Christ Community Church, 320 Loring Mill Road
11/8/2023: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., YMCA, 510 Miller Road
How to donate blood
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.