Blood shortage continues: Red Cross needs donors now

July 14, 2021

A thousand blood donations needed daily to prevent further delays in patient care

While donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to give this summer, the need for blood and platelets remains crucial for patients relying on lifesaving transfusions. The American Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage and donors of all blood types – especially type O and those giving platelets – are urged to make an appointment to give now.

Right now, the Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations each day to meet current demand as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries.

To thank donors who help refuel the blood and platelet supply this month, all who come to give July 7-31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email and will also receive automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value). More information and details are available at rcblood.org/fuel. Also, all those who come to donate throughout the entire month of July will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for four to Cedar Point or Knott’s Berry Farm. To learn more, visit rcblood.org/CedarFair.

Donors who give now will help stock the shelves for the rest of the summer season. Schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets 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.

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.

Locally in Jefferson City and Fulton there are two annual Red Cross blood drives July 20-22 that give donors opportunities to help. On July 20, the Red Cross will once again partner with Zimmer Media Group stations 94.3 KAT Country, News Radio 950 AM/104.5 FM and 101.9 The Wave for the annual media St. Louis Cardinals satellite blood drive from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Firley YMCA, 525 Ellis Blvd, in Jefferson City. All donors who role up a sleeve will receive a limited-edition St. Louis Cardinals T-shirt, while supplies last.

The Red Cross is once again partnering up with the Super Sam Foundation for the eighth consecutive year to host a blood drive in Sam Santhuff’s memory to help save lives and promote awareness of childhood cancer. The community is invited to roll up a sleeve and donate July 21 or July 22 from noon to 6 p.m. at Fulton High School, 1 Hornet Drive, in Fulton. All who attempt to donate will receive a Super Sam T-shirt, or Cardinals T-shirt, while supplies last.

Sam Santhuff was only five years old when he was diagnosed rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. His treatment included numerous surgeries, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and radiation treatments. In addition, Sam had to live apart from his family for a month to receive specialized radiation, and later spent time apart for 100 days in isolation for a bone marrow transplant Ultimately, the extraordinary care Sam received was not enough to defeat the disease as he passed away September 19, 2014. Over 600 blood donations have been collected at the previous blood drives in Sam’s memory.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 16-31

Audrain

Mexico

7/26/2021: 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Church of God Holiness, 1215 West Boulevard

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Barton

Liberal

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

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Benton

Warsaw

7/19/2021: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 154 W. Washington St.

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Boone

Centralia

7/20/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holy Spirit Church, 418 S Rollins

Columbia

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

7/16/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/16/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Bass Pro Shop, 3101 Bass Pro Drive

7/16/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Columbia Mall, 2300 Bernadette Dr

7/17/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/18/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/19/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/20/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/21/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/22/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/23/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/23/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Columbia Public Library, 100 West Broadway

7/23/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics, #1 Hospital Drive

7/24/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/25/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/25/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Newman Center, 602 Turner Ave.

7/26/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/27/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Parkade Center, 601 Business Loop 70 W

7/28/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics, #1 Hospital Drive

7/28/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/29/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/30/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

7/30/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Columbia Mall, 2300 Bernadette Dr

7/31/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 1511 S. Providence Rd.

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Callaway

Fulton

7/21/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fulton High School, 1 Hornet Drive

7/22/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Fulton High School, 1 Hornet Drive

Kingdom City

7/23/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Lighthouse, 2848 County Rd. 147

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Camden

Osage Beach

7/19/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Lake of the Ozarks Elks Lodge #2517, 5161 Osage Beach Parkway

7/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Tri County YMCA of the Ozarks, 950 Airport Road

7/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Osage Beach Senior Center, 5809A Osage Beach Parkway

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Cass

Belton

7/29/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, 16808 Holmes Road

Harrisonville

7/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Harrisonville Community Center, 2400 Jefferson Parkway

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Chariton

Salisbury

7/20/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 311 E. Patterson Ave.

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Clay

Kansas City

7/20/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Connect 55+ Kansas City, 111 NW 94th St.

7/22/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Kansas City MO- Parks and Recreation Administration Bldg, 4600 E 63rd St

7/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Hillsong Kansas City, 2620 Burlington

7/29/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Zaxby's - Liberty, 10430 NE Cookingham Dr.

Kearney

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

Liberty

7/21/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Clay County Savings Bank, 1178 W. Kansas Street

Cole

Jefferson City

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

7/16/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/16/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Missouri State Employees- Lewis & Clark, 1101 Riverside Drive

7/17/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/18/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/19/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/20/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/20/2021: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Firley - YMCA, 525 Ellis Blvd, Po Box 104176

7/21/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/23/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/24/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/25/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/26/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/27/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Capital West Christian Church, 1315 Fairgrounds Road

7/28/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/29/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/30/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

7/31/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane

Saint Thomas

7/18/2021: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 14814 Rt. B

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Cooper

Blackwater

7/28/2021: 1:45 p.m. - 6 p.m., Blackwater School, 300 Doddridge Road

Boonville

7/19/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 322 7th St.

7/30/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wal-Mart Boonville, 1920 Main Street

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Dade

Lockwood

7/26/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 710 Locust

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Henry

Clinton

7/22/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1531 N Vansant Rd

7/23/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1531 N Vansant Rd

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Hickory

Hermitage

7/20/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 24798 Highway 254

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Howard

Fayette

7/30/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Joseph Catholic Church, 306 S. Cleveland

Johnson

Warrensburg

7/28/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay Street

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Laclede

Lebanon

7/16/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., VFW Post 4107, 1617 Lynn St,

7/21/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., The Mills Center, 650 Mills Drive

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Morgan

Laurie

7/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Elks Laurie, 174 Elks Ln.

Versailles

7/19/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ozark Christian School, 16326 Hwy C

7/30/2021: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Assembly of God, 501 W. Hicks St.

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Osage

Freeburg

7/21/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Sacred Heart School, 4309 Hwy U

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Pettis

Sedalia

7/28/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Brian's Gym, 1020 Thompson Blvd

7/30/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1201 W Broadway Blvd

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Polk

Bolivar

7/29/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Buffalo Ward, 1575 E Mt. Gilead Rd

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Pulaski

Saint Robert

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

Waynesville

7/22/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ark Community and Sports Center, 25625 MO-17

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Randolph

Moberly

7/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sam's Health Mart Pharmacies 1 Moberly, 300 N. Morley

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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 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 not-for-profit 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.