Donors urged to give now as nation faces lowest number of blood donors in decades
Donors have the chance to help save lives, win trip to Super Bowl LVIII
Portland, OR (Jan. 8, 2024) — The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and blood and platelet donors are urged to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold.
Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Blood products are currently going to hospitals faster than blood donations are coming in, and in recent weeks, the Red Cross has had to limit distributions of type O blood products – among the most transfused blood types – to hospitals.
“Small changes in blood donor turnout can have a huge impact on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of an emergency blood transfusion,” said Dr. Eric Gehrie, executive physician director for the Red Cross. “More challenges may lie ahead as the potential for severe winter weather and seasonal illness may compound the dire blood supply situation. Donors of all types – especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets – are urged to give now.”
Don’t wait – to make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering this January, during National Blood Donor Month, to urge individuals to give blood or platelets and help tackle the emergency blood shortage. Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma in January will automatically be entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Super Bowl.
Who donations help
Sandy Thornton, of Dallas, Oregon, knows firsthand how important a readily available blood and platelet supply is. Sandy battled a rare form of cancer called Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Myleo Fibrosis. She received numerous blood and platelet transfusions until eventually needing a stem cell transplant.
“There are people who cannot get a stem cell transplant, which means they face a lifetime of platelet or blood transfusions. That’s their life. Blood is a lifesaver no matter how you look at it. It’s not just about when disasters happen, it’s when people get sick,” shares Sandy.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 8-31:
January 8
The Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore Street, Portland, OR, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Safeway, 13434 Colton Place, Oregon City, OR, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 NW Cornell Rd., Portland, OR, 1:30 PM - 7:00 PM
January 9
CBRE 3 Centerpointe, 3 Centerpointe Drive, Lake Oswego, OR, 9:00 AM - 02:00 PM
Elks Lodge 142, 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd., Milwaukie, OR, 12:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Blood Donation Center, 3131 N Vancouver Ave., Portland, OR, 12:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Blood Donor Center, 832 NE 223rd Ave., Wood Village, OR, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Blood Donation Center, 5109 NE 82nd Ave., Vancouver, WA, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Kidsports, 2054 Amazon Pkwy, Eugene, OR, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Cascade Disposal Advanced Systems, 1300 SE Wilson Ave., Bend, OR, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
January 10
Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 13475 SW Millikan Way, Beaverton, OR, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Oregon Opportunities, 548 Business Park Dr., Medford, OR, 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Kruse Oaks Conference Space, 5300 SW Meadows Rd., Suite # 180 & 190, Lake Oswego, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110, Bend, OR, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
The Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore St., Portland, OR, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
January 13
West Linn Lutheran Church, 20390 Willamette Dr., West Linn, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tektronix Fitness Center, 14053 SW Karl Braun Dr., Beaverton, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Lloyd Center Mall, 2201 Lloyd Center, Portland, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
January 15
Rise Church, 10445 SW Canterbury Ln., Portland, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sherwood Family YMCA, 23000 SW Pacific Hwy., Sherwood, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Von Ebert Brewery - Timberland Town Center, 11800 NW Cedar Falls Dr., Portland, OR, 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM
January 18
Lincoln Center, 10260 SW Greenburg Rd., Tigard, OR, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
OR Dept of Treasury Division, 16290 SW Upper Boones Ferry Rd., Tigard, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
RE/MAX Equity Group Beaverton, 9790 SW Nimbus Ave., Beaverton, OR, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
St. Mary Catholic Church, 1062 Charnelton St., Eugene, OR, 10:30 AM - 3:30 PM
St Charles Medical Center Bend, 2500 NE Neff Rd., Bend, OR, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
January 22
Beaverton Foursquare Church, 13445 SW Walker Rd., Beaverton, OR, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Mountain View High School, 1500 SE Blairmont, Vancouver, WA, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1155 Presidents St., Eugene, OR, 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Holiday Inn Express, 2117 Franklin Blvd., Eugene, OR, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
RRMC-Smullin Center, 2825 East Barnett Rd., Medford, OR, 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Blood Donation Center, 815 SW Bond Street Suite 110, Bend, OR, 11:00 AM - 07:00 PM
January 23
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 3228 SW Sunset Blvd., Portland, OR, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
VA Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Portland, OR, 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Fred Meyer, Inc., 3800 SE 22nd Ave., Portland, OR, 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
PBS Engineering and Environmental, 1325 SE Tech Center Dr. Suite 140, Vancouver, WA, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
January 24
Tualatin Presbyterian Church, 9230 SW Siletz Dr., Tualatin, OR, 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Fred Meyer, Inc., 3800 SE 22nd Ave., Portland, OR, 8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Ananda Church, 4855 SW Watson Ave., Beaverton, OR, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Valley River Center, 293 Valley River Center, Eugene, OR, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Blood Donation Center, 1174 Progress Drive Suite 102, Medford, OR, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
January 29
US Digital Vancouver, 1400 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver, WA, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Wood Village Blood Donor Center, 832 NE 223rd Ave., Wood Village, OR, 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
City of Bend Police Department, 555 NE 15th St., Bend, OR, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
January 30
EVEN Hotel, 2133 Centennial Plaza, Eugene, OR, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
January 31
Addictions Recovery Center Building, 1003 E Main St. Building C, Medford, OR, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Rogue Credit Union, 1370 Center Dr., Medford, OR 97504, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
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 and is the primary blood supplier to 65 hospitals throughout Washington and Oregon; 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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