Get in the giving spirit with the Red Cross

For Immediate Release

Get in the giving spirit with the Red Cross

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Dec. 21, 2022) — As the final holiday rush arrives, the American Red Cross asks donors to shake up their holiday plans and give blood or platelets now and throughout the end of the year.

According to AAA, nearly 113 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2, meaning many who may have otherwise given blood will likely defer their donation until the new year. Unfortunately, trauma patients in the emergency room, those undergoing cancer treatment and new parents in need of lifesaving transfusions can’t take a holiday break. The need for blood and platelets is constant.

It’s important for donors − especially type O blood donors and platelet donors − to give now to ensure hospitals have the blood they need into the new year. Schedule an appointment by using the Red Cross 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 Dec. 16-Jan. 2 will get a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 21-Jan. 2

IL

Clinton

Bartelso

12/27/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Cecilia Parish Center, 304 South Washington

Breese

12/23/2022: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Central Community High School, 7740 Old US Highway 50

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Coles

Charleston

12/30/2022: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., The Villas Of Holly Brook and Reflections Memory  Care, 738 18th Street

Mattoon

12/23/2022: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Burgess Osborne Auditorium, 1701 Wabash Avenue

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Crawford

Flat Rock

12/28/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Flat Rock Community Center, 310 West Second Street

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Cumberland

Toledo

12/21/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Neal Center YMCA, 130 Courthouse Square

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Effingham

Effingham

12/21/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

12/22/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

12/22/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Effingham Event Center, 1501 West Fayette

12/24/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

12/27/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

12/28/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

12/29/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

12/30/2022: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave.

12/31/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Effingham Blood Donation Center, 603 Eden Ave

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Fayette

Saint Peter

12/22/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., St. Peter Lutheran School, 703 E. 3rd Street

Vandalia

12/27/2022: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fayette Co. Health Dept., 416 W. Edwards

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Jefferson

Belle Rive

12/21/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church, 401 South Main Street

Mount Vernon

12/22/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Granada, 108 North Ninth Street

12/30/2022: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Roadhouse Harley-Davidson, 205 N. 44th Street

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Macoupin

Bunker Hill

12/28/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Bunker Hill Fire Department, 123 W. Warren St.

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Madison

Bethalto

12/27/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bethalto Senior Center, 100 E Central

Edwardsville

12/29/2022: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Moose Lodge 1561, 7371 Marine Rd. (Rte 143)

Troy

12/28/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Tri Township Park, 410 Wickcliffe

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Marion

Centralia

12/27/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., City Hope Church, 1000 E. 3rd Street

12/29/2022: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Centralia Elks Lodge, 235 North Locust Street

Salem

12/21/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Community Building Salem, 416 Oglesby

Sandoval

12/30/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sandoval City Hall, 102 North Cherry Street

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Monroe

Columbia

12/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monroe County YMCA HTC Center, 9514 Caring Way

Waterloo

12/30/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Waterloo Junior High School,  200 Bellefontaine Dr

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Montgomery

Litchfield

12/23/2022: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., First Baptist Church, 608 N. Van Buren

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Richland

Olney

12/21/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Richland Nursing and Rehab, 900 East Scott St

12/22/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Joseph Catholic Church-Olney, 220 South Elliott Street

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Saint Clair

Belleville

12/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., East Belleville Center YMCA, 2627 Carlyle Ave

Fairview Heights

12/21/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/22/2022: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/23/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/24/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/26/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/27/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/28/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/29/2022: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/30/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

12/31/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/1/2023: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/2/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

O Fallon

12/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., O’Fallon Illinois YMCA, 284 N Seven Hills

12/27/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., St. Clare School, St. Clare School hosted by the O’Fallon Rotary, 214 West 3rd Street

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Washington

Nashville

12/29/2022: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Washington County Hospital-Nashville, 705 South Grand

MO

Franklin

Saint Clair

12/28/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Scenic Regional Library, 515 East Springfield Road

Union

12/30/2022: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Scenic Regional Library, 251 Union Plaza Drive

Washington

12/21/2022: 9:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Washington Blood Donation Center, 6244 Hwy 100, suite 210

12/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Four Rivers Family YMCA, 400 Grand Avenue

12/24/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Washington Blood Donation Center, 6244 Hwy 100, suite 210

12/26/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Washington Blood Donation Center, 6244 Hwy 100, suite 210

12/27/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Washington Blood Donation Center, 6244 Hwy 100, suite 210

12/28/2022: 9:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Washington Blood Donation Center, 6244 Hwy 100, suite 210

12/31/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Washington Blood Donation Center, 6244 Hwy 100, suite 210

1/1/2023: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Washington Blood Donation Center, 6244 Hwy 100, suite 210

1/2/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Washington Blood Donation Center, 6244 Hwy 100, suite 210

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Jefferson

Festus

12/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Jefferson County Family YMCA, 1303 YMCA Drive

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Lincoln

Silex

12/28/2022: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Millwood Knights of Columbus, 24 St. Alphonsus Rd.

Troy

12/28/2022: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 100 Thompson Drive

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Saint Charles

O Fallon

12/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., O’Fallon Missouri YMCA, 3451 Pheasant Meadow Dr

12/27/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Joy Community Church, 925 State Hwy K,

12/27/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Middendorf Kredell Branch Library, 2750 Hwy K

Saint Peters

12/21/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/22/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/23/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/23/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., St Charles County Family YMCA, 3900 Shady Springs Ln

12/24/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/26/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/27/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/28/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/29/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/29/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Spencer Road Branch Library, 427 Spencer Road

12/30/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

12/31/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 3 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

1/1/2023: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

1/2/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., St Charles County Blood Donation Center, 252 Mid Rivers Center

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Saint Francois

Bonne Terre

12/29/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Bonne Terre VFW, 1112 Roe Street

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Saint Louis

Affton

12/27/2022: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Affton Fire Protection District, 9282 Gravois Rd.

Ballwin

12/30/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Manchester Parks, Recreation, & Arts office, 359 Old Meramec Station Rd

Chesterfield

12/21/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Chesterfield Family YMCA, 16464 Burkhardt Place

12/22/2022: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/23/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/24/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/26/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/27/2022: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., St Louis County Library – Samuel Sachs Branch, 16400 Buckhardt Place

12/27/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/28/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/29/2022: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/30/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

12/31/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

1/1/2023: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

1/2/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive  Blvd.

Eureka

12/27/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Louis County Library – Eureka Hills, 500 Workman Rd

12/29/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Eureka Fire Protection District, 4849 Highway 109

Fenton

12/23/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Riverchase of Fenton, 990 Horan Dr.

12/28/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Louis County Library -Meramec Valley, 1501 San Simeon Way

12/29/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Heritage Classical Christian Academy, 1694 Smitzer Station Road

Florissant

12/28/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Florissant Meadow’s Shopping Center, 740 N. Highway 67

12/30/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Florissant Meadow’s Shopping Center, 740 N. Highway 67

Saint Louis

12/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Emerson YMCA, 3390 Pershall Road

12/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mid-County Family YMCA, 1900 Urban Dr.

12/21/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., South County YMCA, 12736 Southfork Road

12/22/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/23/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/24/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/26/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/27/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/27/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Center of Clayton, 50 Gay Avenue

12/27/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Olivette City Center, 1140 Dielman Rd

12/27/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sunset Hills Parks & Recreation, 3915 South Lindbergh

12/27/2022: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Lukes UMC, 2761 Telegraph Road

12/28/2022: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., City of Shrewsbury, 5200 Shrewsbury Ave

12/28/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Christian Hospital, 11133 Dunn Road

12/28/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/28/2022: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Cliff Cave Library, 5430 Telegraph Rd

12/29/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/30/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

12/30/2022: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., The Immacolata Catholic Church, 8900 Clayton Rd

12/31/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/1/2023: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/2/2023: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

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Saint Louis City

12/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Carondelet Park Rec Complex, 930 Holly Hills

12/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bayer YMCA, 5555 Page Ave

12/22/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., South City Family YMCA, 3150 Sublette Avenue

12/23/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., O’Fallon Park Rec Complex, 4343 West Florissant Street

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Sainte Genevieve

Bloomsdale

12/29/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 175 Jersey Lane

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Washington

Potosi

12/28/2022: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Washington County Memorial Hospital, 300 Health Way

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. 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.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Amplify Your Impact − Volunteer!

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for a either position, contact Kristin Pendleton at Kristin.Pendleton@redcross.org, or call/text: 314-281-7968.

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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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