Keep the blood supply stable: Give blood or platelets with Red Cross

By American Red Cross on March 10, 2026 • ( Leave a comment )

This March, the American Red Cross urges donors to help the national blood supply recover following a severe shortage and empower their health by making an appointment to give blood or platelets. Donors of all blood types remain critical to maintaining momentum and keeping the blood supply steady as we head into spring.

Some parts of the nation are still clearing snow, but the threat of severe spring weather is already growing. Now is the time to book a blood or platelet donation appointment to help prevent any future disruption to patient care.

Help is needed right now ─ and a simple act of donating blood or platelets can be the lifesaving gift people are counting on. Book a time to give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

The Red Cross will perform A1C testing on successful blood, platelet and plasma donations made March 1-31, 2026 (one result in 2026). Those who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31, 2026, will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card by email. Details on both offers can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/March.

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, a 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 Red Cross’s lifesaving mission 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.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities in March:

Anaheim

3/17/2026: 10:30 am – 3:30 pm, Downtown Anaheim Family Resource Center, 250 E Center St
3/19/2026: 11:30 am – 4:30 pm, Brewery X, 3191 E La Palma Ave
3/24/2026: 7:30 am – 1:30 pm, Servite High School, 1952 W La Palma Ave
3/24/2026: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, Emerald Court, 1731 W. Medical Center Drive
3/25/2026: 12 – 5 pm, Canyon Hills Library, 400 S Scout Trail
3/31/2026: 11 am – 4 pm, West Anaheim Medical Center, 3033 West Orange Ave

Buena Park

3/15/2026: 9 am – 2 pm, GOPIO – Buena Park Sikh Temple, 7122 Orangethorpe Ave
3/23/2026: 12 – 5 pm, Buena Park Downtown, 8308 On the Mall

Coto de Caza

3/10/2026: 8 am – 2 pm, Coto de Caza Golf & Racquet Club, 25291 Vista del Verde

Cypress

3/9/2026: 2 – 8 pm, Neighborhood Church, 6143 Ball Road
3/12/2026: 2 – 8 pm, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5151 Orange
3/17/2026: 10:30 am – 3:30 pm, Residence Inn Cypress Los Alamitos, 4931 Katella Ave
3/18/2026: 1 – 7 pm, West Cypress Church, 5471 W Cerritos Ave
3/31/2026: 10 am – 4 pm, City of Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange Ave

Dana Point

3/23/2026: 10 am – 4 pm, City of Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo

Dove Canyon

3/25/2026: 10 am – 4 pm, Dove Canyon Golf Club, 22682 Golf Club Dr.

Fountain Valley

Red Cross Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St. See RedCrossBlood.org for hours

Fullerton

Red Cross Fullerton Blood Donation Center, 1379 S Harbor Blvd. See RedCrossBlood.org for hours
3/11/2026: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, California State University, Fullerton TSU, 800 N State College Blvd
3/26/2026: 11 am – 5 pm, Fullerton Public Library, 353 W Commonwealth Ave

Garden Grove

3/10/2026: 1 – 6 pm, Garden Grove Unified School District – Building G, 6202 Cerulean Ave
3/10/2026: 10 am – 3 pm, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 12301 Magnolia St
3/25/2026: 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, Medical & Nursing College – Cedarbrook Business Park, 12862 Garden Grove Blvd

Huntington Beach

3/9/2026: 12 – 5 pm, Huntington Beach Masonic Center, 601 Palm Avenue
3/17/2026: 10 am – 4 pm, Huntington Beach Masonic Center, 601 Palm Avenue
3/30/2026: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, Huntington Beach Masonic Center, 601 Palm Avenue
3/31/2026: 8 am – 2 pm, Marina High School, 15871 Springdale St

Irvine

3/10/2026: 9 am – 3 pm, Antis Roofing, 2649 Campus Dr
3/12/2026: 9 am – 3 pm, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, 8014 Marine Way
3/26/2026: 9 am – 3 pm, Antis Roofing, 2649 Campus Dr
3/30/2026: 11 am – 5 pm, Harvest Community Church, 9235 Research Dr

La Habra

3/19/2026: 11 am – 4 pm, La Habra Church of Christ, 1621 W Lambert Rd

La Palma

3/25/2026: 9 am – 3 pm, La Palma Community Center, 7821 Walker Street

Ladera Ranch

3/19/2026: 7 am – 7 pm, Oak Knoll Village Clubhouse, 28192 O’Neill Dr

Laguna Hills

Red Cross Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Drive. See RedCrossBlood.org for hours

Laguna Niguel

3/15/2026: 7 am – 1 pm, St Timothy Catholic Church, 29102 Crown Valley Pkwy
3/26/2026: 10 am – 4 pm, Marina Hills Recreation Center, 31461 Parc Vista W
3/29/2026: 7:30 am – 1:30 pm, Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church, 30071 Ivy Glenn Dr

Los Alamitos

3/29/2026: 9 am – 2 pm, St Isidore Historical Plaza, 10961 Reagan Street

Midway City

3/12/2026: 3 – 8 pm, American Legion Post 555, 14582 Beach Blvd

Mission Viejo

3/11/2026: 9 am – 3 pm, Trabuco Hills High School, 27501 Mustang Run
3/24/2026: 11:30 am – 5:30 pm, Lake Mission Viejo Association, 22555 Olympiad Rd
3/27/2026: 12 – 6 pm, Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church Mission Viejo Campus, 26001 Muirlands

Newport Beach

3/13/2026: 8 am – 2 pm, Newport Harbor High School, 600 Irvine Ave

Orange

3/13/2026: 10:30 am – 3:30 pm, Sisters of St Joseph of Orange, 480 S Batavia St
3/15/2026: 7:45 am – 1:45 pm, St. John’s Lutheran Church, 154 S Shaffer St
3/19/2026: 1 – 6 pm, Orange Unified School District, 1401 N. Handy Street
3/23/2026: 12:30 – 5:30 pm, Soulland Lab, 162 N Glassell St
3/24/2026: 10 am – 3 pm, Santiago Canyon College, 8045 E Chapman Ave
3/29/2026: 8:30 am – 2 pm, American Legion Post 132, 143 S. Lemon Street

Rancho Mission Viejo

3/22/2026: 8 am – 2 pm, Rancho Mission Viejo, 2 Tierno

Rancho Santa Margarita

3/17/2026: 8 am – 2 pm, Tesoro High School, 1 Tesoro Creek

Rossmoor

3/18/2026: 9 am – 3 pm, Rush Park, 3021 Blume Dr

San Clemente

3/16/2026: 11:30 am – 5:30 pm, Baha’is of San Clemente, 3316 Avenida Del Presidente
3/23/2026: 1 – 7 pm, Christ Lutheran Church, 35522 Camino Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano

3/17/2026: 10:30 am – 4:30 pm, San Juan Capistrano Library, 31495 El Camino Real
3/26/2026: 8 am – 2 pm, JSerra Catholic High School, 26351 Junipero Serra Road
3/31/2026: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, AMFM Healthcare, 30310 Rancho Viejo Road

Santa Ana

Red Cross Santa Ana Blood Donation Center, 600 N Parkcenter Drive. See RedCrossBlood.org for hours
3/20/2026: 1 – 7 pm, Santa Ana Red Cross Chapter, 600 N Parkcenter Dr
3/26/2026: 12 – 5 pm, MainPlace Mall, 2800 N Main St

Seal Beach