Red Cross Reports Emergency Blood and Platelet Shortage

The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood and platelet shortage and must collect 10,000 blood products each week over the next month for the blood supply to recover and meet hospital and patient needs. Donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors are encouraged to make an appointment to donate.

The Red Cross reports blood supplies have dropped to the lowest post-summer levels since 2015, with less than a half-day supply at times over the last month.

“Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds as donors are more available to give than during the busy summer months, but this year has presented a unique and serious challenge,” said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer for the Red Cross. “While it’s clear the pandemic continues to weigh heavily on our minds, the Red Cross asks the public to remember donating blood and platelets is essential to the many patients that rely on lifesaving transfusions every day.”

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.

As a thank-you, coupons and other incentives are being offered to all those who donate through September 30th. A number of blood drives are scheduled throughout the region in the coming weeks. You can make an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept. 27-Oct.15:

Arenac

Au Gres
10/22/2021: 12 p.m. – 4:45 p.m., St John Lutheran Church, 206 North Court Street
Standish
9/27/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., Divine Shepherd Christian Community Church, 4335 West M-61
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Bay

Bay City
9/30/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., 242 Community Church, 2303 Amelith Rd.
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Genesee

Burton
9/28/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 1227 E. Bristol Road

Fenton
10/11/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Fenton VFW Post, 1148 N. Leroy Street

Flint
9/26/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
9/27/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
9/28/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
9/29/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/1/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/2/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/3/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/4/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/5/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/6/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/8/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/9/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/10/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/11/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/12/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/13/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/15/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/16/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/17/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/18/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/19/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/20/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/22/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/23/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/24/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/25/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/26/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/27/2021: 11:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse

10/29/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse
10/30/2021: 7:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Flint Blood Donation Center, 1401 S. Grand Traverse

Flushing
10/4/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Flushing Presbyterian Church, 5010 N. McKinley Road

Goodrich
10/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., United Methodist Church, 8071 S. State Road

Grand Blanc
9/28/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Kirkridge Presbyterian Church Grand Blanc, 8070 Saginaw

Swartz Creek
10/7/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Swartz Creek United Methodist Church, 7400 Miller Road
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Gratiot

Alma
10/12/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 495 Charles

Ashley
10/26/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Ashley School, 104 N. New Street

Ithaca
10/5/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., Thompson Home Public Library, 125 Center Street
10/25/2021: 8:15 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Ithaca High School, 710 N. Union St
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Huron

Pigeon
10/19/2021: 9:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Laker High School, 6136 Pigeon Road
Port Hope
10/13/2021: 1 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Port Hope AmVets Post 115, 8011 Rubicon M-25

Ubly
10/4/2021: 1 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Ubly Heights, 2409 E. Atwater
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Iosco

Oscoda
10/26/2021: 8 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Oscoda High School, 3550 River Road
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Isabella

Blanchard
10/6/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Blanchard Church of God, 200 S. Fourth Street
Mount Pleasant
9/27/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Morey Courts Recreation Center, 5175 E. Remus Rd.

9/30/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 320 S. Bradley
10/1/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., College of Medicine, 1280 E. Campus Drive
10/13/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Beal City Knights of Columbus, 2765 West Beal City Road
10/22/2021: 11 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Morey Courts Recreation Center, 5175 E. Remus Rd.
10/29/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1404 S. Crawford Road
Rosebush
10/19/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Rosebush Presbyterian Church, 3914 N Mission Rd

Weidman
10/26/2021: 12:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Weidman Community Center, 5918 W Bridge St
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Ogemaw

West Branch
10/6/2021: 1 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Holy Family Parish, 402 W. Peters Road
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Saginaw

Frankenmuth
10/27/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., St. Lorenz Worship and Event Center, 850 West Genesee Street
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Shiawassee

Durand
10/14/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Durand VFW Post 2272, 923 N. Saginaw

Laingsburg
10/11/2021: 1 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., St Isidore Catholic Church, 310 Crum

Owosso
10/8/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., Memorial Healthcare, 826 W. King Street
10/12/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Owosso VFW, 519 S. Chipman St
Perry
10/28/2021: 11:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Perry Baptist Church, 217 S. Main Street
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Tuscola

Caro
10/6/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Caro United Methodist Church, 670 Gilford Road

Cass City
10/5/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., Cass City VFW Hall, 4533 Veterans Drive

Mayville
10/18/2021: 12 p.m. – 5:45 p.m., St. Joseph Catholic Church, 315 W. Ohmer Road