As fall approaches, the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to help end the ongoing critical need for blood and kick off the season with a blood or platelet donation. The Red Cross needs donors of all blood types to give now and help ensure lifesaving transfusions are on the sidelines for those who rely on them.
While summer winds down, the Red Cross is concerned that the rise in COVID-19 cases due to the delta variant and a potentially active hurricane season may further challenge the ability to collect and meet hospital demand. In recent weeks, the Red Cross has seen blood donor turnout decline by nearly 10% while hospital demand continues to outpace donations. This decline is believed to be due to multiple reasons, including the continued effects of the pandemic on blood drive cancellations and donor availability as well as back-to-school preparations for many families.
Make a game plan to donate - patients are relying on the kindness of blood and platelet donors for their continued treatment. 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.
As a thank-you, those who come to give Sept. 3-7 will receive a new, 16-ounce Red Cross campfire mug, while supplies last.
Sport Clips Haircuts and Red Cross partnership helps
Having a stable blood and platelet supply is the best defense against a shortage. This September, donors can do good and look good when they give blood or platelets as part of the Red Cross and Sport Clips Tackle the Need. Give Blood. campaign.
Those who come to give blood or platelets Sept. 1-30 will receive a coupon for a free haircut via email several days after their donation. The coupon is valid through Nov. 30, 2021, at participating Sport Clips locations. Donors must have a valid email address on record to receive the coupon.
The Red Cross and Sport Clips encourage donors to use the hashtag #TackleTheNeed to share their new looks and invite others to give.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept. 1-15
KENTUCKY
Christian
Fort Campbell
9/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Blanchfield Army Hospital, 650 Joel Drive
9/15/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fort Campbell PX, 2840 Bastogne Avenue
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Logan
Auburn
9/3/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., New Friendship Baptist Church, 5030 Friendship Road
Lewisburg
9/3/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lewisburg Church of Christ, 128 South Main St
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Marshall
Benton
9/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Christian Church, 2515 South Main Street
Calvert City
9/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Calvert City Civic Center, 991 E. 5th Ave.
Hardin
9/7/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Hardin Baptist Church, 218 College Street
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Warren
Bowling Green
9/1/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace
9/1/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Harley Davidson, 251 Cumberland Trace Road
9/3/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace
9/15/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace
TENNESSEE
Bedford
Bell Buckle
9/14/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cascade High School, 3035 Fairfield Pike
Shelbyville
9/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Shelbyville, 304 East Depot Street
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Clay
Celina
9/1/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Celina Community Center, 145 Cordell Hull Drive
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Coffee
Tullahoma
9/14/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 200 NE Atlantic St
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Davidson
Madison
9/10/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Music City Battle of the Badges, 726 W Old Hickory Blvd
9/10/2021: 6 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Music City Battle of the Badges, 726 W Old Hickory Blvd
Nashville
9/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center 100 Oaks, 719 Thompson Lane
9/1/2021: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/2/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/3/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/4/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/5/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/6/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Ford Ice Center Bellevue, 7638 B Highway 70 S
9/7/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Delta Air Lines - BNA, One Terminal Drive, Suite 501
9/7/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/8/2021: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/9/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/10/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/11/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/12/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/13/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue
9/13/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/14/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kroger Bellevue, 7087 Hwy 70 S
9/15/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 4815 Franklin Pike
9/15/2021: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave
9/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., The Inn at Opryland, 2401 Music Valley Drive
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DeKalb
Smithville
9/7/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 201 South College Street
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Dickson
White Bluff
9/6/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., White Bluff Church of Christ, 4416 Hwy 70
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Humphreys
New Johnsonville
9/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Trace Creek Baptist Church, 1320 Broadway Avenue
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Lawrence
Lawrenceburg
9/2/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 212 Waterloo Street
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Macon
Lafayette
9/3/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Macon County General Hospital, 204 Medical Drive
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Marshall
Lewisburg
9/14/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Church Street Church of Christ, 305 West Church Street
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Maury
Columbia
9/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 19, 812 Nashville Highway, Hwy 31 North
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Montgomery
Clarksville
9/1/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 1760 Madison Street
9/2/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Governor's Square Mall, 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd
9/13/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 1760 Madison Street
9/15/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 1760 Madison Street
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Robertson
Springfield
9/2/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Owens Chapel UMC, 6742 Owens Chapel Road
9/13/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Springfield Baptist Church, 400 North Main Street
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Rutherford
Murfreesboro
9/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Middle Tennessee State Univ Keathley University Center, 1524 Military Memorial Drive
9/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/3/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/4/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/5/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/6/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/7/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/9/2021: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/10/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/11/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/12/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/13/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital, 1700 Medical Parkway
9/13/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
9/14/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.
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Smith
Carthage
9/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Smith County Community Center, 939 Upper Ferry Road
Gordonsville
9/13/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., New Middleton Baptist Church, Hwy 141
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Sumner
Gallatin
9/2/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Gallatin Civic Center, 210 Albert Gallatin Avenue
9/13/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sumner Station, 225 Big Station Camp Blvd
Hendersonville
9/15/2021: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Lowe's Home Improvement, 360 East Main Street
9/15/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 217 East Main Street
Portland
9/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mount Pleasant General Baptist Church, 1185 New Deal Potts Road
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Wayne
Collinwood
9/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Collinwood Freewill Baptist, 1st Ave North
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Williamson
Brentwood
9/1/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Ravenwood High School, 1724 Wilson Pike
9/8/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Way
9/8/2021: 6 a.m. - 12 p.m., Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Way
9/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Way
9/9/2021: 6 a.m. - 12 p.m., Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Way
Franklin
9/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Franklin Oncology, 4488 Carothers Parkway
9/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Natchez Trace American Red Cross Chapter, 129 West Fowlkes St, Ste 100
9/3/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., CoolSprings Galleria, 1800 Galleria Blvd.
9/14/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Residence Inn Berry Farms Franklin, 8078 Berry Farms Crossing
Nolensville
9/7/2021: 1:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Nolensville First United Methodist Church, 7316 Nolensville Road
Thompsons Station
9/15/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Kroger Marketplace, 4726 Traders Way
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Wilson
Lebanon
9/13/2021: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Wilson County Veterans Building, 945 E. Baddour Parkway
Mount Juliet
9/14/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Celebration Lutheran Church, 3425 N Mount Juliet Road
Health insights for donors
At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is 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
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions - including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status - have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.
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.
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.