The American Red Cross urges donors to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now to keep the blood supply as strong as possible in the final days of the year and into 2026. Types O, A negative and B negative blood donors are especially needed now.
Record-setting travel is happening across the country. With more people headed away from home, blood and platelet donations can dip at a crucial time when patients count on care. Bad weather or shifting travel schedules could force donors to cancel or reschedule donation appointments and tighten the blood supply. Make time to give before you go — it’s a simple way to make a lifesaving impact.
Give hope during the holidays and schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Those who come to give Dec. 19, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026, will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last. See RedCrossBlood.org/Gifts for details.
As a special thank-you to donors for helping address the need for blood during the critical post-holiday time, those who come to give Jan. 1-25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area. See RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl for details.
If you’re unable to give blood or platelet, consider making a financial donation to support our lifesaving mission at redcross.org.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Dec. 22, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026:
NC
Avery
Linville
12/26/2025: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Cannon Memorial Hospital, 436 Hospital Dr, Sloop Medical Office Plaza
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Buncombe
Asheville
12/22/2025: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/23/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Asheville YMCA, 30 Woodfin St
12/23/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/24/2025: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/24/2025: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Asheville Mall, 3 S Tunnel Rd
12/26/2025: 8 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/27/2025: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/28/2025: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/29/2025: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/30/2025: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/31/2025: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
12/31/2025: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Lowe’s of West Asheville #0526, 95 Smokey Park Highway
12/31/2025: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., MAHEC-Biltmore Campus, 121 Hendersonville Road
1/2/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/3/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/4/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
Candler
12/22/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Enka Fire Dept, 85 Pisgah Highway
Leicester
1/2/2026: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Leicester Volunteer Fire Department, 1563 Alexander Road
Weaverville
1/2/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Weaverville Community Center at Dottie Sherrill Knoll, 60 Lakeshore Drive
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Cherokee
Andrews
12/30/2025: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Andrews Public Library, 871 Main St
Murphy
12/29/2025: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Bellview Community Center, 201 Old Bellview Rd
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Clay
Brasstown
12/22/2025: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Little Brasstown Baptist Church, 6120 Harshaw Road
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Haywood
Canton
1/2/2026: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Haywood County Library Canton, 11 Pennsylvania Ave
Clyde
1/2/2026: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Clyde Fire Department, 8531 Carolina Blvd
Lake Junaluska
12/23/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Junaluska Fire Department, 90 Old Clyde Rd
Waynesville
12/29/2025: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Masonic Lodge Waynesville, 435 East Marshall Street
12/30/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Lowe’s 0470 Waynesville, 100 Liner Cove Rd
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Henderson
Hendersonville
12/24/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 211 1st Avenue East
12/26/2025: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., American Red Cross, 211 1st Avenue East
12/31/2025: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Red Cross, 211 1st Avenue East
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Jackson
Cashiers
12/23/2025: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Cashiers Fitness Center, 355 Frank Allen Rd.
Sylva
12/26/2025: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Harris Regional Hospital, 68 Hospital Road
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Macon
Franklin
1/2/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Lowe’s 0717 Franklin, 161 Franklin Plaza, Georgia Highway
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Madison
Mars Hill
12/26/2025: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Beech Glen Community Center, 2936 Beech Glen Rd
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McDowell
Marion
12/23/2025: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Marion Community Building, 191 North Main Street
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Mitchell
Spruce Pine
12/31/2025: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., The Greens at Spruce Pine, 218 Laurel Creek Ct
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Rutherford
Ellenboro
12/30/2025: 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1507 Oak Grove Church Rd
1/3/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Liberty Baptist Ch Ellenboro, 821 Webb Road
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Swain
Bryson City
12/29/2025: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., First Citizens Bank, 51 Main St
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Transylvania
Brevard
12/22/2025: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Walmart, 177 Forest Gate Dr
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Yancey
Burnsville
12/30/2025: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 51 Town Square
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. [BA1]
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.
