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
About 400 blood drives were impacted due to extreme winter weather last month alone — more than three times the number of blood drives impacted during the same time the previous year. As a result, thousands of blood donations have gone uncollected. With intense winter weather and freezing temperatures expected across much of the country in the coming weeks, more blood drives could potentially be delayed or canceled at a time when every unit of blood could be the difference for doctors facing difficult choices about which patients receive blood transfusions and who will need to wait.
“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.”
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 20-Feb. 3:
NC
Buncombe
Arden
1/20/2026: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Arden Presbyterian Church, 2215 Hendersonville Road
1/20/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/20/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Givens Estate Oxford Commons, 400 Wesley Drive
1/21/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/23/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/23/2026: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Buncombe County Schools, 175 Bingham Rd
1/24/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/25/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/26/2026: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/28/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/30/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/31/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
2/1/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
2/2/2026: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
2/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Asheville Blood Donation Center, 100 Edgewood Road
1/29/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Francis Asbury UMC Gym, 725 Asbury Road
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Clay
Hayesville
1/30/2026: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., VFW Post 6812, 357 Anderson St
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Haywood
Canton
2/2/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Center Pigeon Fire Dept., 2412 Pisgah Drive, Highway 110
Clyde
1/24/2026: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Clyde Fire Department, 8531 Carolina Blvd
1/28/2026: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Haywood Regional Medical Center, 75 Leroy George Road
Waynesville
1/22/2026: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., VFW Post 5202, 216 Miller Street
1/27/2026: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Long’s Chapel, 133 Old Clyde Rd.
1/27/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 7 p.m., Long’s Chapel, 133 Old Clyde Rd.
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Henderson
Fletcher
1/22/2026: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, 100 Sierra Nevada Way
2/3/2026: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Tageos, 1 Quality Way
Hendersonville
1/22/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., American Red Cross, 211 1st Avenue East
Mills River
1/23/2026: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Mills River Town Hall, 124 Town Center Dr
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Jackson
Cashiers
2/2/2026: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Summit Charter School, 370 Mitten Lane
Cullowhee
1/29/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Western Carolina University, Highway 107
1/30/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Western Carolina University, Highway 107
Sylva
1/29/2026: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Harris Regional Hospital, 68 Hospital Road
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Macon
Franklin
2/3/2026: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Macon County Library, 149 Siler Farm Road
2/3/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Macon County Library, 149 Siler Farm Road
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Madison
Marshall
1/28/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Marshall Library, 1335 N. Main Street
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McDowell
Marion
1/21/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Marion Community Building, 191 North Main Street
1/23/2026: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Eastfield Elementary School, 170 Eastfield School Rd
1/28/2026: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Grace Community Church, 5182 US 70W
2/3/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., McDowell Tech College, 54 College Drive
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Mitchell
Spruce Pine
1/20/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Spruce Pine, 125 Tappan Street
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Polk
Tryon
2/2/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Congregational UCC, 210 Melrose Avenue
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Rutherford
Bostic
1/30/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., East Rutherford High School, 331 E High Rd
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Swain
Bryson City
1/28/2026: 8:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Swain County High School, 1415 Fontana Road
1/30/2026: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Swain County Health Department, 545 Center Street
Cherokee
1/21/2026: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cherokee Indian Hospital, 1 Hospital Rd
1/27/2026: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Cherokee High School, 86 Elk Crossing Ln
_______________
Transylvania
Brevard
1/21/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Transylvania County Parks & Recreation Center, 1078 Ecusta Road
1/23/2026: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Cindy Platt Boys and Girls Club of Transylvania County, 11 Gallimore Road
1/31/2026: 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 325 North Broad Street
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.
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