Blood Shortage Prompts Red Cross Appeal for Donors

The American Red Cross is urging donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and help save lives this spring. 

Winter weather in parts of the country reportedly forced more than 270 blood drives to be canceled, resulting in over 9,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations in the first two weeks of March.

Volunteer blood donors from across the country are needed to help ensure lifesaving blood products are available for patients this spring. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

Here is a list of upcoming blood donation opportunities from March 20 to April 15:

CFSB Center, 1401 KY-121 Murray, KY 42071
3/28/2018: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Lowe's Home Improvement Murray, 1400 Lowes Drive Murray, KY 42071
3/30/2018: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Fancy Farm Elementary School, 270 St Route 339 S. Fancy Farm, KY 42039
3/20/2018: 1 - 6 p.m.

Lowes Elementary School, 6775 State Route 440 Lowes, KY 42061
3/15/2018: noon - 5 p.m.

American Legion, 211 South 7th Mayfield, KY 42066
3/27/2018: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 210 South Washington St. Clinton, KY 42031
3/26/2018: noon - 6 p.m.

Hickman County High School, 301 Cresap St. Clinton, KY 42031
3/29/2018: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church Kuttawa, Walnut Drive Kuttawa, KY 42055
3/12/2018: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Marshall County Hospital, 615 Old Symsonia Road Benton, KY 42025
3/16/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Woodmen Life, 1005 Poplar St. Benton, KY 42025
3/19/2018: noon - 6 p.m.

South Marshall Fire Department, 8280 Aurora Hwy. Benton, KY 42025
3/21/2018: 2 - 7 p.m.

Calvert City Civic Center, 991 E. 5th Ave. Calvert City, KY 42029
3/12/2018: noon - 6 p.m.

Paducah Blood Donation Center, 4635 Falconcrest Drive Paducah, KY 42001
3/15/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
3/16/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
3/17/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
3/18/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
3/19/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
3/20/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
3/22/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
3/23/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
3/24/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
3/25/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
3/26/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
3/27/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
3/29/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
3/30/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

3/31/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
4/1/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
4/2/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
4/3/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
4/5/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
4/6/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
4/7/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
4/8/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
4/9/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
4/10/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
4/12/2018: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m.
4/13/2018: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
4/14/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.
4/15/2018: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Lourdes Hospital, 1530 Lone Oak Road Paducah, KY 42003
3/21/2018: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 9701 Blandville Road West Paducah, KY 42086
3/18/2018: 1 - 5 p.m.

Egyptian Community Unit District #5, 20023 Diswood Road Tamms, IL 62988
4/6/2018: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Brookport City Hall, 7705 South US 45 Brookport, IL 62910
4/10/2018: 1 - 6 p.m.

First Baptist Church, 307 Massac Creek Road Metropolis, IL 62960
4/9/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Massac Memorial Hospital, 28 Chick St. Metropolis, IL 62960
4/13/2018: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Caledonia Community Church, 10076 State Hwy 37 Olmsted, IL 62970
4/11/2018: 1:30 - 5:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church, 409 Morgan St. Anna, IL 62906
4/12/2018: noon - 6 p.m.

Calvary Baptist Church, 121 Kentucky Ave. Princeton, KY 42445
4/5/2018: noon - 6 p.m.

First Christian Church, 415 Audubon Drive Paducah, KY 42001
4/2/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Lone Oak First Baptist Church, 3601 Lone Oak Road Paducah, KY 42001
4/9/2018: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

West Kentucky Community & Technical College, 4810 Alben Barkley Drive Paducah, KY 42001
4/11/2018: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.


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.