Severe Blood Shortage: Red Cross Blood Supply Drops 35% 

ST. LOUIS, MO. — The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply of blood, leading to about a 35% drawdown of blood products in the past month. Individuals are urged to give now so patients don’t face delays in lifesaving care. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and types O, A negative and B negative blood.

High flu activity in nearly every state may be sidelining donors, slowing efforts to rebuild the Red Cross national blood supply. At the same time, hospitals already feeling the strain of the worst flu season in nearly 20 years are now also forced to triage critical blood products. Without immediate action, patients who count on transfusions — including trauma victims, mothers in childbirth and people with sickle cell disease or cancer — face serious risk.

There’s no time to wait — book an appointment to give blood or platelets now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a thank-you to donors for helping tackle the blood shortage, those who come to give through Jan. 25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area. The winner and guest will receive two tickets to Super Bowl LX, access to day-of, in-stadium pregame activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 6-9, 2026), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses. See RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl for details.

All who come to give Jan. 26-Feb. 28, 2026, will receive a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. See RedCrossBlood.org/Heart for details.

Weather disrupts vital donations

“Winter always puts pressure on the blood supply, and this year widespread flu and rough weather are making it even tougher,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of Red Cross donor services. “If you’re able, now’s a great time to make and keep blood donation appointments, during National Blood Donor Month. Every donation can be a lifeline for a patient who isn’t able to hold off on critical care.”

Who Donations Help

Cancer patients rely on the generosity of platelet donors such as Richard Keating as more than half of platelet donations go towards this purpose. “I feel that I am doing what I can to help cancer patients going through chemotherapy,” Keating shared. “It is really fulfilling to me.” Keating has given a part, five hundred parts to be exact, of himself so that someone else, someone he will never meet, can have another chance at life. Read Richard Keating’s full donation journey here.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities - Jan. 20-Feb. 3

ILLINOIS

Madison

Alton

1/20/2026: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., Mac's Downtown, 315 Belle St

1/26/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Senior Services Plus, Inc., 2603 North Rodgers

1/27/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd

Collinsville

1/20/2026: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., American Legion Post 365, 1022 Vandalia

1/29/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., IBEW Local 309, 123 N Bluff Rd

Edwardsville

1/26/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Keller Williams Marquee Edwardsville, 1254 University Drive, Suite 200

1/28/2026: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., St. John's United Methodist Church, 7372 Marine Rd

2/2/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., LeClaire Christian Church, 1914 Esic Dr

Godfrey

2/3/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Lewis and Clark Community College, 5800 Godfrey Rd.

Highland

1/26/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., VFW Hall, 1900 VFW Lane

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Monroe

Columbia

1/22/2026: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Hope Christian Church, 9273 Coach Stop Rd.

Hecker

1/27/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Hecker Community Center, 230 East Washington Street

Waterloo

1/27/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., VFW, 406 Veterans Dr.

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Randolph

Chester

1/30/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Chester Memorial Hospital, 1900 State Street

Red Bud

1/22/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Red Bud Regional Hospital, 325 Spring Street

1/27/2026: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Red Bud Elementary, 200 W Field Dr

Sparta

1/27/2026: 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Spartan Light Metal, 510 East McClurken

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Saint Clair

East Saint Louis

1/28/2026: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., East St Louis Senior High, 4901 State Street

Fairview Heights

1/20/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/21/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/22/2026: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/23/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/24/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/25/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/26/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/27/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/28/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/29/2026: 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/30/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

1/31/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

2/1/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

2/2/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

2/3/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 7 p.m., Fairview Heights Blood Donation Center, 10886 Lincoln Trail

Freeburg

1/27/2026: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Catholic War Veteran's Post 370, Catholic War Veterans Post 370, 3535 S. Route 159

Mascoutah

1/21/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mascoutah Library, 3 W Church St

O Fallon

1/26/2026: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Public Safety Building, 285 N. 7 HIlls Rd

Shiloh

2/3/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Memorial Hospital Shiloh, 1404 Cross Street

Swansea

2/3/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Swansea American Legion Post 2007, 216 Service St

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Saint Louis

Ballwin

1/20/2026: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., Ballwin Community Center, 1 Ballwin Commons Circle Dr

Brentwood

1/23/2026: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Brentwood Parks and Recreation, 2505 S Brentwood

Bridgeton

1/22/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Fee Fee Baptist Church, 11330 St Charles Rock Rd

Chesterfield

1/20/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/21/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/22/2026: 11 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/23/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/24/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/25/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/26/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/27/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/28/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/29/2026: 11 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/30/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

1/31/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

2/1/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

2/2/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

2/3/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., West County Blood Donation Center, 13369 Olive Blvd.

Ellisville

1/21/2026: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., St Louis County Library - Daniel Boone Branch, 300 Clarkson Rd.

1/27/2026: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Pathfinder Church -Cornerstone Building, 15800 Manchester Rd.

Eureka

1/21/2026: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Central Baptist Church, 601 North Central

1/30/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Eureka Community Center, 333 Bald Hill Road

Fenton

1/20/2026: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., Fenton United Methodist Church, 800 Gravois Rd

2/2/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Elevation Church, 316 Gravois Rd,

Florissant

1/21/2026: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., STL County Library - Jamestown Bluffs, 4153 North US Highway 67

1/21/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Florissant Meadow's Shopping Center, 740 N. Highway 67

2/2/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Florissant Meadow's Shopping Center, 740 N. Highway 67

Maplewood

1/21/2026: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., IMEG, 15 Sunnen Dr

Maryland Heights

1/20/2026: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., Centene Community Ice Center, 750 Casino Center Dr

Richmond Heights

1/20/2026: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., VFW Post 3500, 1717 S Big Bend Blvd

Saint Louis

1/20/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/21/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/22/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, 2300 Ball Drive

1/22/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/23/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/24/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/25/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/26/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/26/2026: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Mary Queen of Peace, 676 Lockwood Avenue

1/26/2026: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Zion United Methodist Church, 1603 Union Road

1/27/2026: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., City of Shrewsbury, 5200 Shrewsbury Ave

1/27/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/28/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/28/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., St Louis County Library - Lewis & Clark Branch, 9909 Lewis and Clark Blvd

1/29/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/29/2026: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., North County Recreation Complex, 2577 Redman Rd

1/30/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

1/30/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sunset Hills Subaru, 10100 Watson Rd

1/31/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

2/1/2026: 8 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

2/1/2026: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Resurrection Lutheran Church, 9907 Sappington Rd

2/2/2026: 12 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

2/2/2026: 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., American Legion Post 111, 7300 Lansdowne Ave

2/3/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., South County Blood Donation Center, 9230 Watson Rd.

Webster Groves

2/3/2026: 3:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 17 Joy Ave

Wildwood

1/25/2026: 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., St Alban Roe Catholic Church, 2001 Shepard Road

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Saint Louis City

1/20/2026: 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., Favazza's on the Hill, 5201 Southwest Ave

1/20/2026: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St

1/21/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Henry Givens Administration Building, 3026 Laclede Ave

1/21/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Barnes-Jewish Hospital, One Barnes Hospital Plaza, North South Link

1/23/2026: 12:15 p.m. - 5 p.m., University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, 1 Pharmacy Place

1/23/2026: 5 a.m. - 11 a.m., Walter Knoll, 2765 Lasalle St

1/29/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., St Louis Public Library Vandeventer, 2260 S. Vandeventer Avenue

1/30/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Barnes-Jewish Hospital, One Barnes Hospital Plaza, North South Link

1/30/2026: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., Better Family Life, Incorporate, 5415 Page Blvd

1/30/2026: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., Genesis Health Clubs- Ballpark Village, 3 Cardinal Wy

1/31/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., NAACP St Louis, 4811 Delmar Blvd

2/2/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Busch Student Center, 20 N Grand

2/2/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Barnes-Jewish Hospital, One Barnes Hospital Plaza, North South Link

2/3/2026: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Powers Insurance, 6825 Clayton Ave

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