Limited-edition long-sleeved T-shirts for those who come to give around holidays

Nearly two years into the pandemic, everyone has earned a holiday break with their family and friends. But as the nation gathers again for celebrations this season, the American Red Cross, which provides 40% of the country's blood, is facing historically low blood supply levels.

Busy holiday schedules, breaks from school and winter weather all contribute to a drop in blood and platelet donations this time of year. Those factors, combined with the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, make it vital for donors to make an appointment to give as soon as possible. If more donors don't come forward to give blood, some patients requiring a transfusion may potentially face delays in care.

Donors are urged to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). There is no blood donation waiting period for those who have received a flu shot or a Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine or booster, so long as they are symptom-free.

To encourage donors to help address the historically low blood supply this holiday season, all who come to give Dec. 17-Jan. 2 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last.

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. 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 17-Jan. 2

KENTUCKY

Christian County

Fort Campbell

12/21/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Blanchfield Army Hospital, 650 Joel Drive

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Marshall County

Benton

12/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Marshall County Sheriff's Office, 52 Judicial Drive

Calvert City

12/29/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Calvert City Church of Christ, 4625 US Highway 62

Hardin

12/20/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Hardin Baptist Church, 218 College Street

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Warren County

Bowling Green

12/17/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

12/22/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

12/23/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

12/23/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 1601 Westen St

12/29/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

12/31/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

TENNESSEE

Benton County

Camden

12/17/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 104 Church Street

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Clay County

Celina

12/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Celina Community Center, 145 Cordell Hull Drive

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Davidson County

Goodlettsville

12/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., First Baptist Church, 613 South Main Street

Hermitage

12/21/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Metro Police-Hermitage, 3701 James Kay Lane

1/2/2022: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Hermitage Hills Baptist Church, 3475 Lebanon Pike

Nashville

12/17/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/18/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/19/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/20/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/20/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Light Hall, 2215 Garland Avenue

12/21/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Light Hall 2215 Garland Ave

12/21/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/23/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Vanderbilt Health 100 Oaks, 719 Thompson Lane

12/23/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/24/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/26/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Inn at Opryland, 2401 Music Valley Drive

12/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Light Hall 2215 Garland Ave

12/27/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/28/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ford Ice Center Bellevue, 7638 B Highway 70 S

12/28/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/28/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Light Hall, 2215 Garland Ave.

12/29/2021: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/29/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, 5120 Franklin Pike

12/30/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

12/31/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

1/1/2022: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

1/2/2022: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Blood Donation Center, 2201 Charlotte Ave

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Dickson County

Burns

12/22/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Burns Church of Christ, 2718 Church Street

Dickson

12/22/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., YMCA Dickson, 301 Henslee Drive

12/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Doug Varner State Farm, 185 Beasley Drive

12/30/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Tennsco Community Center, 115 Tennsco Drive

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Franklin County

Winchester

12/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Winchester Church of Christ, 1230 South College Street

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Lawrence County

Lawrenceburg

12/20/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 212 Waterloo Street

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Macon County

Lafayette

12/28/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Lafayette United Methodist Church PREDS, 506 Bratton Ave

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Marshall County

Chapel Hill

12/22/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Chapel Hill UMC, 316 North Horton Parkway

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Maury County

Columbia

12/23/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion Post 19, 812 Nashville Highway, Hwy 31 North

12/29/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 19, 812 Nashville Highway, Hwy 31 North

Spring Hill

12/20/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., UAW- Local 1853, 125 Stephen P Yokich Pkwy

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Montgomery County

Clarksville

12/20/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 1760 Madison Street

12/21/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Governor's Square Mall, 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd

12/22/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross, 1760 Madison Street

12/23/2021: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Appleton Harley Davidson, 2501 Hwy 41A Bypass

12/27/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Clarksville American Red Cross, 1760 Madison Street

12/29/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Clarksville American Red Cross, 1760 Madison Street

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Overton County

Livingston

12/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Livingston Overton Chamber, 222 East Main Street

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Perry County

Linden

12/21/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 138 West Main Street

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Robertson County

Ridgetop

12/30/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Ridgetop First Baptist Church, 1757 Highway 41 South

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Rutherford County

Murfreesboro

12/17/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/18/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/19/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/20/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/21/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/23/2021: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/24/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/26/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/27/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Nashville Predators World Outreach Church, 1921 New Salem Highway

12/28/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/30/2021: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

12/31/2021: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

1/1/2022: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

1/2/2022: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Murfreesboro Blood Donation Center, 501 Memorial Blvd.

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Sumner County

Gallatin

12/20/2021: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kroger, 845 Nashville Place

12/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sumner Station, 225 Big Station Camp Blvd

12/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sumner Regional Medical Center, 555 Hartsville Pike

12/30/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Sumner Regional Medical Center, 555 Hartsville Pike

Hendersonville

12/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hendersonville Community Church, 381 West Main

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Trousdale County

Hartsville

12/20/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Hartsville Community Center, 303 Main Street

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Williamson County

Brentwood

12/17/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Way

12/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., City of Brentwood, Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Rd.

12/23/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., City of Brentwood, Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Rd.

12/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., City of Brentwood, Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Rd.

12/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Way

12/29/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Brentwood Library, Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Rd.

12/30/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., City of Brentwood, Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Rd.

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Franklin County

12/17/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Westhaven Community, 401 Cheltenham Avenue

12/23/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Natchez Trace American Red Cross Chapter, 129 West Fowlkes St, Ste 100

12/29/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Nashville Predators Galleria, 1800 Galleria Blvd., Suite 2075

12/30/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Natchez Trace American Red Cross Chapter, 129 West Fowlkes St, Ste 100

Thompsons Station

12/22/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Kroger Marketplace, 4726 Traders Way

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Wilson County

Lebanon

12/21/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., East/West Building, 945 E Baddour Parkway

12/27/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, 1655 Main Street

Mount Juliet

12/27/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott, 1980 Providence Parkway

12/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mount Juliet Community Center, 1075 Charlie Daniels Parkway

Save time during donation

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.

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.

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 who require trait-negative blood. 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.