Give Blood or Platelets Now After Weather Impact To Blood Supply

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Jan. 22, 2025) — The American Red Cross encourages donors to give blood or platelets 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 and those giving platelets – 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 more than 12,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations in January.

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 or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a special thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during this crucial time, those who come to give through Jan. 26, 2025, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The trip includes access to day-of in-stadium pre-game activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare to New Orleans, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 7-10, 2025), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses. For full details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

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 Jan. 22-Feb. 15:

Dodge

Beaver Dam

2/10/2025: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

2/11/2025: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 311 W Mackie St

2/20/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., YMCA of Dodge County, 220 Corporate Dr

Fox Lake

1/29/2025: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Fox Lake Community Center, 248 E State Street

2/20/2025: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fox Lake Correctional, W10237 Lake Emily Rd

Horicon

2/5/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., MarshView Ministries, 103 South Cedar St

Iron Ridge

2/3/2025: 1:45 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Michael’s Lutheran Church, N4911 Gray Road

Juneau

1/22/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Dodgeland High School, 401 S Western Ave

Mayville

2/19/2025: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion, 134 South Main Street

Rubicon

2/17/2025: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Honor Intermediate School, N3501 Cty Hwy P

Waupun

2/21/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Pizza Ranch, 900 W Main St

Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac

1/23/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Marian University, 45 S National Ave

1/29/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Church of Peace, 158 S Military Rd

1/31/2025: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Fond du Lac Public Library, 32 Sheboygan St.

2/4/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., MPTC Conference Center, 235 N National Ave

2/17/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thrive Church, 79 E 2nd St

Ripon

2/18/2025: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA, 430 Griswold St

Jefferson

Fort Atkinson

2/10/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1660 Endl Blvd

Jefferson

2/13/2025: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., East Elementary School, 120 S Sanborn Ave

Johnson Creek

2/6/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center, 417 Union St

Lake Mills

2/12/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., City Hall, 200 Water St

Watertown

2/17/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 112 Hall Street

2/18/2025: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 112 Hall Street

Kenosha

Kenosha

2/6/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Herzing University, 5800 7th Ave

Milwaukee

Brown Deer

1/31/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Pauls Lutheran Church, 8080 N 47th St.

Greendale

1/23/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Martin Luther High School, 5201 South 76th Street

2/7/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Hose Tower, 5699 Parking St

Milwaukee

1/27/2025: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Lakefront Brewery, 1872 N Commerce St

1/27/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Summit Place, 6737 W Washington St.

1/28/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Schlitz Park, 1555 N River Center Dr

1/28/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., General Mitchell Airport Delta Air Lines, 5300 S Howell Ave

1/31/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., HA Todd American Legion Post 537, 9159 W Beloit Rd

2/7/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Southside Church of Christ, 1933 W Grange Ave

2/11/2025: 8:15 a.m. – 2 p.m., Ronald Reagan High School, 4965 S 20th St

2/14/2025: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Milwaukee Safety Academy, 6680 North Teutonia Avenue

2/18/2025: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., UWM Student Union, 2200 Kenwood Blvd

2/21/2025: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Marquette Gymnasium, 1508 W. Clybourn Street

River Hills

1/23/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St Christophers Episcopal Church, 7845 N River Rd

South Milwaukee

1/29/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., South Milwaukee Police Department, 2424 15th ave

West Allis

1/29/2025: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Festival Foods, 11111 W Greenfield Ave

2/12/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Nathan Hale High School, 11601 W Lincoln Ave

Whitefish Bay

1/28/2025: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Whitefish Bay Library, 5420 N Marlborough Dr

Ozaukee

Grafton

1/30/2025: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kapco Metal Stamping, 983 Badger Circle

2/14/2025: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Village Pointe Commons, 101 Walnut Cir.

Port Washington

1/22/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Matthew Lutheran Church, 1525 N Grant St

Saukville

1/30/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Saukville Fire Department, 520 W Dekora St

Racine

Burlington

1/22/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Low Daily Brewery, 700 N Pine St

2/20/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Burlington United Methodist Church, 857 W State St

Sheboygan

Cedar Grove

2/11/2025: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Faith Reformed Church, 243 S Fourth St

Plymouth

2/13/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Younger Family Campus Center, W3718 South Drive

Sheboygan

1/24/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

1/27/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Calvary Evanglical Lutheran Church, 2132 N 27th St

1/31/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

2/7/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

2/14/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

2/21/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave

Walworth

Elkhorn

2/5/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Elkhorn Area High School, 482 E Geneva St

2/20/2025: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Sugar Creek Lutheran Church, N5690 Cobblestone Rd

Lake Geneva

2/7/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Cove of Lake Geneva, 111 Center Street

2/14/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Como Community Church, W3901 Palmer Road

Whitewater

2/10/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., University of Wisconsin Whitewater, 420 N Prairie St

Washington

Germantown

2/19/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Germantown Community Library, N112W16957 Mequon Rd

Kewaskum

1/29/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Kewaskum High School, 1510 Bilgo Ln

West Bend

2/5/2025: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., West Bend City Hall, 1115 S Main Street

2/5/2025: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., West Bend City Hall, 1115 S Main Street

2/13/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Legion Post 36, 712 Park Ave.

Waukesha

Brookfield

2/18/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Corners of Brookfield, 270 Lord Street

Delafield

2/19/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Delafield American Legion Post No 196, 333 N Lapham Peak Rd

Hartland

1/23/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Price Engineering, 1175 Cottonwood Ave

Menomonee Falls

2/3/2025: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Legion Post 382, N88 W16652 Main St

Mukwonago

2/3/2025: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Mukwonago YMCA, 245 E Wolf Run

New Berlin

2/21/2025: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., New Berlin West Middle & High School, 18695 W Cleveland Ave

North Prairie

2/17/2025: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Highview Evangelical Presbyterian Church, S50 W33042 Town Rd GE

Oconomowoc

1/24/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., YMCA at Pabst Farms, 1750 Valley Rd

1/27/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Oconomowoc Community Center, 220 W Wisconsin Ave

2/21/2025: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Oconomowoc Public Library, 200 W South St

Pewaukee

1/22/2025: 9:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

1/24/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

1/25/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

1/26/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

1/27/2025: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

1/28/2025: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

1/29/2025: 9:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

1/31/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/1/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/2/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/3/2025: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/4/2025: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/5/2025: 9:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/7/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/8/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/9/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/10/2025: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/11/2025: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/12/2025: 9:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/14/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/15/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/16/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/17/2025: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/18/2025: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/19/2025: 9:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

2/21/2025: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Waukesha Blood Donation Center, 2220 Silvernail Rd

Summit

2/6/2025: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Summit Village Hall, 37100 Delafield Road

Sussex

1/27/2025: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Hamilton High School, W220 N6151 Town Line Rd

2/3/2025: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Rotating Equipment Repair, W248 N5550 Executive Dr

Wales

1/31/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Kettle Moraine High School, 349 N Oak Crest Dr

Waukesha

2/7/2025: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Waukesha Public Library, 321 Wisconsin Avenue

2/13/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Campus Center, 100 N East Ave

2/17/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Raised Grain Brewing Company, 1725 Dolphin Drive

2/18/2025: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Burn Boot Camp, 721 Meadowbrook Rd

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 either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.

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 follow us on social media.

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NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.