December may be the season of giving – but it’s typically a challenging time to collect enough blood donations. Add in a pandemic, and this year could be even tougher than usual. That’s why the American Red Cross is urging those who are feeling well to give the gift of life by donating blood this holiday season.
The need for blood doesn’t stop for holidays. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, more than 1 million blood transfusions will be given in the United States. Donations of all blood types are needed to ensure hospital shelves remain stocked to meet patient blood needs.
Make an appointment to give blood with the Red Cross by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting https://www.redcrossblood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Those who come to donate between Dec.18 and Jan. 4 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Important COVID-19 information for donors
As COVID-19 hospitalizations increase, hospital demand for convalescent plasma has also grown. COVID-19 convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation given by those who’ve recovered from this coronavirus. Their plasma contains antibodies that may help patients actively fighting the virus.
The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual developed COVID-19 symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood donation collected from COVID-19 survivors that have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.
COVID-19 antibody test results will be available within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – 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 and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities:
Dallas County
Cedar Hill
12/31/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Comfort Inn and Suites, 1419 N Highway 67
Dallas
12/16/2020: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2945 South Sunbeck Circle
12/18/2020: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Toyota of Dallas, 2610 Forest Lane
12/19/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 10701 E. Lake Highland Dr.
12/20/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Dr.
12/21/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Dr.
12/22/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm St
12/23/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., White Rock Family YMCA, 7112 Gaston Avenue
12/24/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Drive
12/24/2020: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Half Price Books – Flagship, 5803 E Northwest Hwy, Dallas, TX 75231
12/27/2020: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Lowe’s Dallas, 6011 Lemmon Avenue
1/3/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Dr.
1/4/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross Dallas Chapter, 2055 Kendall Dr.
Grand Prairie
12/27/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Grand Prairie, 2050 N Highway 360
12/28/2020: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Grand Prairie Family YMCA, 4556 S. Carrier Parkway
Irving
12/29/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Element Hotel North DFW/Irving, 3550 Highway 635
12/29/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Country Inn & Suites, 2000 Hard Rock Rd.
Mesquite
12/21/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., American Legion Post 504, 130 E Main St
12/22/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., St Stephen United Methodist Church, 2520 Oates Dr,
12/23/2020: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Mesquitestrong, 2300 I-30 Frontage Rd,
Richardson
12/16/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Baptist Richardson, 1001 N. Central Expy
12/21/2020: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Drury Plaza Hotel Richardson, 165 Cityline Dr.
Sachse
12/19/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Chase Oaks Church – Woodbridge Campus, 2709 3rd St.
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Tarrant County
Arlington
12/22/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Shady Valley Country Club, 4001 W Park Row Drive
12/31/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Liberty Hotel, 7719 Sand Street
Euless County
12/24/2020: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lowe’s Euless, 3000 TX 121
Fort Worth
12/17/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Baylor All Saints Medical Center, 1400 8th Avenue
12/26/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hulen Mall, 4800 South Hulen Street
12/28/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott Fort Worth West at City View, 6400 Overton Ridge Blvd.
12/31/2020: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Amon G. Carter, Jr. Downtown YMCA, 512 Lamar Street
Keller
12/28/2020: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Lowe’s of Keller, 600 North Tarrant Parkway
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Denton County
Carrollton
1/4/2021: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Rosemeade Recreation Center, 1330 E Rosemeade Pkwy
Denton
12/18/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Medical City Denton, 3535 South Interstate 35
12/31/2020: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Wal-Mart, 1515 South Loop 288
Flower Mound
1/2/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5500 Morris Road
Frisco
12/19/2020: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Half Price Books, 3221 Preston Rd.
12/20/2020: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Frisco Fresh Market, 9215 John W Elliott Drive
12/28/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Frisco Family YMCA, 3415 W Main St
Lewisville
12/29/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Best Western Plus Lewisville Coppell, 330 E Corporate Dr
Little Elm
1/2/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lowe’s Store 2567, 2773 East El Dorado
The Colony
12/17/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Castle Hills Crossing Shopping Center, 4940 SH 121
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Collin County
Allen
12/18/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 601 S. Greenville
12/21/2020: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn – Allen Conference Center, 705 Central Expwy S.
12/22/2020: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Allen City Hall, 305 Century Parkway
12/26/2020: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Lowe’s, 1010 W. McDermott Dr
Dallas
12/16/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Texas A&M Agrilife Research, 17360 Coit Rd
Frisco
12/23/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Living Spaces Frisco, 10900 St Hwy 121
McKinney
12/20/2020: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Texas RoadHouse Mckinney, 3101 S. CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY
12/22/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites McKinney-Fairview, 3220 Craig Drive
12/24/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Baylor Medical Center at McKinney, 5252 W. University Drive
12/26/2020: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., TBT Gym, 1434 N. Central Expy., Unit 122
12/30/2020: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Hampton Inn and Suites, 2008 N. Central Expressway
Plano
12/17/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Fairfield Inn & Suites Plano North, 3415 Premier Drive
12/18/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church Plano, 3160 E Spring Creek Pkwy
12/23/2020: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Desi Ginger Restaurant, 2205 North Central Expressway
12/27/2020: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, 5960 W Parker Road, Suite 210
12/29/2020: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., Baylor Scott and White The Heart Hospital Plano, 1100 Allied Drive
12/30/2020: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Medical City Plano, 3901 West 15th Street
12/30/2020: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, 3601 Dallas Parkway
1/4/2021: 2 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Studio 3 Dance, 2220 Coit Road, #440
Wylie
12/30/2020: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Gateway Community Church, 2201 Country Club Rd
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Ellis County
Ennis
12/29/2020: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., First United Methodist Church of Ennis, 300 N. Sherman Street
Waxahachie
12/18/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Waxahachie Family YMCA, 100 YMCA Dr
12/31/2020: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Baylor Medical Center of Waxahachie, 2400 N. I35E
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Erath County
Stephenville
12/22/2020: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hampton Inn & Suites, 910 S Harbin Dr
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Hood County
Granbury
12/28/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., La Quinta Inn & Suites, 880 Harbor Lakes Road
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Johnson County
Burleson
12/24/2020: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Lowe’s Burleson, 920 N. Burleson Blvd.
Cleburne
12/23/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Cleburne Ford, 3800 North Main Street
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Kaufman County
Forney
12/18/2020: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Best Western Plus Christopher Inn & Suites, 752 Pinson Rd
12/19/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 8200 FM741
Terrell
12/31/2020: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Faith Fellowship Church of the Nazarene, 1104 Griffith Avenue
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Rockwall County
Rockwall
12/19/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6819 South Fm 549
Royse City
12/23/2020: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., City Hall, 305 N Arch St.
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