Donors Urgently Needed

Red Cross still facing severe blood shortage. Hospital blood demand remains high as the nation heads into holiday week

The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage that is negatively affecting blood product availability across the country. Donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give now and help ensure hospital shelves are stocked with blood products over the Fourth of July holiday and beyond.

Right now, the Red Cross is working around the clock to provide blood products to hospitals responding to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, as well as overdoses and resulting transplants. As a result of the blood shortage, some hospitals are being forced to slow the pace of elective surgeries until the blood supply stabilizes, delaying crucial patient care.

In addition, while summer is traditionally a time when blood donations decline, this year is particularly challenging as many Americans receive their vaccinations and resume summer activities after more than a year of limited interactions and travel, leading to lower donor turnout. The need for blood doesn’t take a holiday break − patients still depend on lifesaving transfusions.

Donors are needed now to prevent further delays to patient care. Schedule an appointment to give blood now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

As a thank-you, all those who come to give July 1-6 will receive a Red Cross embroidered hat, while supplies last. And, donors who come to give July 7-31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, plus a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value). (Terms and conditions apply; visit rcblood.org/fuel).

In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities June 28-July 15

MO

Audrain

Laddonia

6/29/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 301 Maple Street

Mexico

6/28/2021: 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Church of God Holiness, 1215 West Boulevard

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Bates

Adrian

7/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Optimist Building, 317 South Old 71 Highway

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Boone

Columbia

6/28/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

6/28/2021: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Stephens College, 6 N College AVe

6/29/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

6/30/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mizzou North, 115 Business Loop 70 West

6/30/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/1/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/2/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/3/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/4/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/5/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/6/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/7/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/8/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/9/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/10/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/11/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/12/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/13/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/14/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, 1100 Virginia Avenue

7/14/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/15/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

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Callaway

Fulton

6/30/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Police Station, 935 S Business 54

6/30/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 718 Court St.

7/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Peter Church, 700 Hwy Z

7/13/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Callaway Electric Cooperative, 1313 Cooperative Drive

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Cass

Belton

7/14/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Fairfield Inn & Suites - Belton, 151 N Mullen Rd

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Clay

Gladstone

7/1/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Community Center, 6901 North Holmes Street

Kansas City

7/1/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Zaxby's - Liberty, 10430 NE Cookingham Dr.

7/9/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., North Kansas City YMCA, 1999 Iron Street

Kearney

7/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Kearney, 1000 E State Rte 92

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Cole

Jefferson City

6/28/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

6/28/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Bible Baptist Church, 4730 Country Club Drive

6/29/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

6/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Samuel F. Gearhart Detachment Marine Corps Building, 4925 Business 50 W.

6/30/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Missouri State Employees, 301 W High St.

6/30/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/1/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/2/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/2/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Missouri River Regional Library, 214 Adams Street

7/3/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/4/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/5/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/6/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/7/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/8/2021: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/9/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/10/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/11/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/12/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/13/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/14/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/15/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Missouri Hospital Association, 4712 Country Club Drive

7/15/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Missouri Department of Conservation, 2901 W. Truman Blvd

7/15/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

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Cooper

Boonville

6/29/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Isle of Capri, 100 Isle of Capri Blvd.

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Gasconade

Owensville

7/8/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 404 S. 1st St.

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Howard

Glasgow

7/1/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 701 First St.

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Jackson

Blue Springs

6/28/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., East Forty Brewing, 1201 W Main St,

7/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Hughes Defense, 1008 W Main St

7/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Blue Springs Christian Church, 7920 South 7 Hwy

Grandview

6/30/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Grandview Community Center, 13500 Byars Road

Independence

6/28/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Jackson County Historic Truman Courthouse, 112 W. Maple

7/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Bass Pro Shop Independence, 18001 Bass Pro Drive

Kansas City

6/30/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Kansas City Public Library: Waldo Branch, 201 E 75th Street

7/2/2021: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Research Medical Center, 2316 E. Meyer Blvd

7/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., HJ’s Youth and Community Center, 6425 Wornall Rd

7/9/2021: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Boilermakers Local 83, 5910 E. 86th St

7/9/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Red Bridge Family YMCA, 11300 Holmes Rd.

7/13/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City, 6601 Winchester

7/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kansas City Beacon Hill, 2321 Troost Ave

Lees Summit

6/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Heritage Biologics Inc., 255 NW Victoria Drive

6/29/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Genesis Health Clubs, 178 NW Oldham Parkway

7/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Summit Ridge Medical Plaza, 600 NW Murray Rd

7/14/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Lowe's- Lee's Summit, 1830 Chipman Rd

Raytown

7/13/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Raytown Chapel United Methodist Church, 5413 Blue Ridge Cutoff

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Johnson

Warrensburg

7/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., VFW, 618 Lakeview

7/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Corinthian Lodge #265, 402 E Russell Ave.

Maries

Vienna

7/12/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., United Methodist Church-Vienna, 1102 Hwy 63 North

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Miller

Iberia

7/7/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 205 West Normal Street

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Moniteau

Latham

7/13/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Springhill Mennonite Church, 35937 State Hwy E

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Monroe

Paris

7/1/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 106 N. Main

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Osage

Chamois

7/6/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., St John United Church of Christ, 407 Vine

Linn

7/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. George Parish, 611 E Main Street

Loose Creek

7/6/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Loose Creek Community Center, 173 County Road 403

Westphalia

7/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lions Den, 2073 Highway 63

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Pettis

Sedalia

6/30/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sedalia Parks and Recreation, 1500 W 3rd St

7/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Katy Trail Community Health Center, 821 Westwood Ave

7/6/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Central Bank of Sedalia, 403 W Broadway

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Phelps

Rolla

6/30/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Patrick Catholic Center, 1601 N. Bishop

Saint James

7/12/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 149 West Church Street

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Pulaski

Saint Robert

7/2/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Culver's Restaurant, 1411 Town Center Blvd

7/15/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Saint Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 367 Old Route 66

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Randolph

Moberly

7/8/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Moberly Regional Medical Center, 1515 Union Ave

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Saline

Marshall

7/6/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Marshall Church of the Nazarene Family Life Center, 782 W. North Street

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Barton

Liberal

7/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Liberal, 300 North Denton

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Camden

Camdenton

7/7/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Old Kinderhook, 54 Club Place

Lake Ozark

7/8/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Camden on the Lake Resort, 2359 Bittersweet Rd.

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Vernon

Deerfield

6/30/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Archer Daniels Midland-Front office admin Bldg., 17700 South Highway T

Nevada

7/15/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., United Methodist Church, 500 S College St

About blood donation

To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that 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 must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

Health insights for donors
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

Blood drive safety

The Red Cross has updated its pandemic safety protocols in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Fully vaccinated individuals, including staff and donors, no longer need to wear masks or socially distance. Unvaccinated individuals continue to be required to wear masks and socially distance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.