FAIRFAX, VA (June 28, 2021) — 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
District of Columbia
Washington
6/28/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Red Cross – Hall of Service, 1730 E Street NW 6/28/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW
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6/29/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., American Red Cross – Hall of Service, 1730 E Street NW 6/29/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 6/30/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross – Hall of Service, 1730 E Street NW 6/30/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/1/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/2/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/3/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/4/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/5/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/6/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/7/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross – Hall of Service, 1730 E Street NW 7/7/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/8/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/9/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/9/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross – Hall of Service, 1730 E Street NW 7/10/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/11/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/12/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/13/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross – Hall of Service, 1730 E Street NW 7/13/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/14/2021: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Walker Memorial Baptist Church, 2020 13th St NW 7/14/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/15/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Dr. Charles Drew Blood Donation Center, 1730 E Street NW 7/15/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Red Cross – Hall of Service, 1730 E Street NW
MD
Anne Arundel
Annapolis
7/3/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Pip Moyer Recreation Center, 273 Hilltop Lane 7/6/2021: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Annapolis Moose Lodge 296, 1890 Crownsville Rd
Gambrills
7/3/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Village Commons Community Center, 1326 Main Chapel Way 7/7/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Village Commons Community Center COVID-19, 1326 Main Chapel Way,
7/14/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Mid Atlantic Community Church, 2485 Davidsonville Road
Glen Burnie
6/28/2021: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, 301 Hospital Drive
6/28/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
6/29/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
6/30/2021: 11:15 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/1/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
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7/2/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/3/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/4/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/5/2021: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/6/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/7/2021: 11:15 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/8/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/9/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/10/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/11/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/12/2021: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/13/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/14/2021: 11:15 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
7/15/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Glen Burnie Blood Donation Center, 7310 Ritchie Highway, Suite 114
Pasadena
6/29/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Our Lady of the Chesapeake, 8325 Ventnor Road 7/2/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 7859 Tick Neck Rd
Severn
7/9/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Church at Severn Run, 8187 Telegraph Rd 7/15/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saint Bernadette Parish, 800 Stevenson Road
Severna Park
6/29/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Elks, Truck House Rd. and Jennings Rd.
7/6/2021: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Boulevard Montgomery
Chevy Chase
6/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase, 7931 Connecticut Ave
Damascus
7/7/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Damascus Grace Fellowship SDA Church, 8425 Damascus Road 7/8/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Damascus Grace Fellowship SDA Church, 8425 Damascus Road
Germantown
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7/2/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ LDS Germantown, 18900 Kingsview Rd 7/3/2021: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church-Germantown, 13700 Schaeffer Road
Rockville
6/28/2021: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
6/29/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Shrine of St. Jude Catholic Church, 12701 Viers Mill Road 6/29/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
6/30/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 7 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/1/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/2/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510 7/3/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510 7/4/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/5/2021: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/6/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/7/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 7 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/8/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/9/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510 7/10/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/11/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/12/2021: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/13/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/14/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 7 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
7/15/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rockville Blood Donation Center, 11820 Parklawn Drive, Suite 510
Silver Spring
6/30/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 500 Randolph Road 7/1/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Baitur-Rahman Mosque, 15000 Good Hope Road 7/1/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Montgomery Chapter House, 2020 East West Highway 7/2/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Montgomery County Chapter House, 2020 East West Highway 7/9/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Wheaton Moose Lodge Number 1775, 2901 Bel Pre Road 7/12/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Montgomery Chapter House, 2020 East West Highway 7/13/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., First Alliance Church, 14500 New Hampshire Ave 7/15/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Montgomery Chapter House, 2020 East West Highway _______________
Prince Georges
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Bowie
7/6/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints- – Bowie, 16621 Sylvan Dr
7/10/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church Bowie, 2503 Belair Drive
Clinton
6/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., TownePlace Suites by Marriott Clinton at Joint Base Andrews, 7800 Ferry Ave
College Park
7/1/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., The Hall CP, 4656 Hotel Dr
Greenbelt
7/12/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Greenbelt American Legion Post 136, 6900 Greenbelt Road
Upper Marlboro
7/9/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Upper Marlboro Community Center, 5400 Marlboro Race Track Road
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Saint Marys
Leonardtown
6/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Auxillary Bldg #3, 25500 Point Lookout Rd
Lexington Park
7/15/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lexington Park United Methodist Church, 21760 Great Mills Rd
Valley Lee
7/12/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Valley Lee Volunteer Fire Department, 45245 Drayden Rd VA
Alexandria City
Alexandria
7/1/2021: 2:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., Blessed Sacrament Catholic, 1427 West Braddock Road 7/6/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Alexandria Chapter House, 123 North Alfred St 7/8/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Alexandria Chapter House, 123 North Alfred St _______________
Arlington
Arlington
7/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Little Falls Presbyterian Church, 6025 Little Falls Rd 7/14/2021: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Doubletree – Crystal City, 300 Army Navy Dr _______________
Fairfax
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Alexandria
7/15/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Mount Vernon, 2000 George Washington Memorial Pkwy
Chantilly
7/6/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mubarak Mosque, 4555 Ahmadiyya Dr
Fairfax
6/28/2021: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 6/29/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325
6/30/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/1/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/2/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/3/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/4/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 2720 Prosperity Avenue 7/5/2021: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/6/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/7/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/8/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/9/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/10/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/11/2021: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/12/2021: 1:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/13/2021: 10:45 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/14/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 8 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325 7/15/2021: 12:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairfax Blood Donation Center, 8550 Arlington Blvd, Suite 325
Herndon
6/29/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Floris United Methodist Church, 13600 Frying Pan Rd 7/6/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2727 Centreville Rd. 7/8/2021: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 432 Van Buren St.
Reston
6/29/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Leidos, 1750 Presidents Street
Springfield
7/7/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hilton Springfield, 6550 Loisdale Rd
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Fairfax City
Fairfax
7/9/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Redeeming Grace Church, 5200 Ox Rd, Fairfax, _______________
Loudoun
Ashburn
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7/14/2021: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints- Ashburn, 21015 Claiborne Pkwy
Dulles
7/14/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Dulles Town Center, 21100 Dulles Town Circle
Leesburg
7/6/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Lucketts Community Center, 42361 Lucketts Road 7/9/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Leesburg Premium Outlets, 241 Fort Evans Rd N 7/13/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Leesburg Premium Outlets, 241 Fort Evans Rd N
Sterling
7/3/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Galilee UMC, 45425 Winding Rd
_______________
Manassas City
Manassas
7/8/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Manassas Baptist Church, 8730 Sudley Rd
7/15/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Manassas Volunteer Rescue, 9322 Center Street _______________
Prince William
Dumfries
7/13/2021: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., The Fabriek Event Venue, 17650 Possum Point Rd., Suites F & G
Woodbridge
7/1/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center Hylton Education Center, 2300 Opitz Boulevard,
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
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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.