Upcoming Red Cross blood donation opportunities bewteen nowand Feb. 15 will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23 at Monroeville at Trustmark National Bank, located at 60 Hines Street and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 15, at Walmart, located at 3371 South Alabama Avenue; and in Atmore from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, at Escambia County High School, located at 1215 Presley Street.
A donation shortfall over the winter holidays is prompting the American Red Cross to issue an emergency call for blood and platelet donors to give now to prevent a blood shortage from continuing throughout winter and affecting patient care.
The Red Cross collected more than 27,000 fewer blood and platelet donations the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply. During this period, about 1,350 fewer blood drives were hosted by volunteer sponsor groups than required to meet patient needs as busy holiday schedules kept many donors away.