The American Red Cross encourages donors to give blood now to help protect the blood supply from the ongoing impact of severe winter weather and wildfires. Donors of all blood types – particularly type O negative blood donors – are needed to help save lives this month.
As dangerous snow and ice continue to sweep across the country, and wildfires in Southern California continue to burn and impact air quality, Red Cross blood drive cancellations have grown into the hundreds. Collectively, this has resulted in about 15,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations in January. Here in the Kansas and Oklahoma region, 30 blood drives have been cancelled since the new year due to weather, resulting in 657 uncollected blood product donations.
More winter storms are forecast for this week − including in areas of the U.S. that do not typically experience significant snowfall − which could further strain the blood supply. Additionally, hazardous weather conditions have the potential to make it tougher to move vital blood products across the Red Cross network, possibly affecting deliveries to hospitals in some locations. As National Blood Donor Month continues, the time to give is now.
Where it is safe to do so, donors are asked to book a time to give blood by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
All who come to give Jan. 27-Feb. 28, 2025, will get a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. See RedCrossBlood.org/Flurry for details.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Ellinwood
Feb. 5, 12:30-6:30 p.m., St Joseph’s Parish Center, 110 W. 2nd St.
Great Bend
Feb. 7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Polk Street Building, 1309 Polk St.
Feb. 17, 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Prince of Peace Parish Center, 4124 Broadway
Hoisington
Feb. 19, 12:30-6:30 p.m., Hoisington Activity Center, 1200 Susank
Ellsworth
Jan. 31, noon - 6 p.m., St Bernard’s Catholic Church, 911 N. Kansas
Feb. 17, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ellsworth County Medical Center Administration Building, 1706 Aylward
Larned
Feb. 14, noon - 6 p.m., Columbus Club, 1216 M Road
Sterling
Jan. 31, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sterling College, 125 W. Cooper
La Crosse
Feb. 11, noon - 5:45 p.m., LaCrosse City Auditorium, 417 Main
Luray
2/21/2025: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Luray Community Center, 115 S. Main
Russell
Jan. 23, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Otterbein Methodist Church, 527 N Maple St.
Feb. 20, noon - 6 p.m., Fossil Creek Inn & Suites, 1430 S. Fossil
Macksville
Jan. 30, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Macksville High School, 417 N. Gilmore
St John
Feb. 21, noon - 6 p.m., Stafford County Annex, 210 E 3rd Ave.
