Prevent a winter blood shortage: Give blood or platelets now

Donors have chance to win trip to Super Bowl LX during National Blood Donor Month

Red Cross, Saquon Barkley huddle up for a lifesaving play in January

 

BANGOR, Maine, Jan. 5, 2026 — The American Red Cross is teetering on a blood shortage this winter, which could lead to a disruption in lifesaving care. Donors are urged to make an appointment to give blood or platelets now.

 

The Red Cross blood supply is under pressure following a busy holiday season when winter weather and packed schedules made it even tougher to ensure hospitals have the blood products needed for critical care. Without immediate action, doctors may have to make difficult decisions about which patients receive blood transfusions and who will need to wait. Donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are especially needed now.

Don’t wait – make an appointment to give blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

 

For the seventh year, the Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) are partnering in January for National Blood Donor Month to urge individuals to kick off 2026 with a blood donation. As a 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 an exciting Super Bowl LX giveaway. The winner and guest will get to enjoy Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, 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.For full details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

 

Join a lifesaving team

The Red Cross and Pro Football Champion and blood donor Saquon Barkley are teaming up to remind donors that the best offense against a winter blood shortage is making and keeping blood donation appointments. The blood supply can drop quickly – now’s the time to get in the game and give blood or platelets.

 

“I gave blood once in college and that was the only time I had ever been asked to give, until the Red Cross reached out this fall,” said Barkley. “It was a no-brainer for me to give again. It only takes about an hour and once you realize in that short amount of time how much help it can bring – it’s a beautiful thing.”

 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Jan. 5-31:

Franklin

Carrabassett Valley

1/6/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Sugarloaf Hotel, 5092 Access Road

Farmington

1/7/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 612 Farmington Falls Rd.

1/21/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 612 Farmington Falls Rd.

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Hancock

Bar Harbor

1/6/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Birch Bay Retirement – Event Room, 25 Village Inn Rd

Blue Hill

1/20/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Blue Hill YMCA Lawrence Center, 32 Mines Rd

Bucksport

1/7/2026: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Bucksport High School, 102 Broadway

Ellsworth

1/13/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Ellsworth Elks Lodge 2743, 317 High Street

1/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Ellsworth Elks Lodge 2743, 317 High Street

Orland

1/12/2026: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Orland Community Center, 21 School House Road

Penobscot

1/10/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Penobscot Fire Department, 46 N Penobscot Rd

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Kennebec

Augusta

1/12/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Augusta Elks, 397 Civic Center Drive, P.O. Box 2206

1/26/2026: 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Augusta Elks, 397 Civic Center Drive, P.O. Box 2206

Hallowell

1/8/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Ice Vault of Maine Hallowell, 203 Whitten Road

Oakland

1/27/2026: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., American Legion Post 51, 22 Church St

South China

1/17/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Central Church, 627 Rte 3

Waterville

1/16/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., O’Brien’s Event Center, 375 Main St

Winslow

1/14/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Winslow VFW, 175 Veterans Drive

Winthrop

1/13/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Winthrop American Legion, 117 Bowdoin St

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Knox

Rockland

1/9/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockland American Legion, 335 Limerock Street

1/23/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Rockland American Legion, 335 Limerock Street

Rockport

1/13/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., YMCA, 116 Union St

1/27/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., YMCA, 116 Union St

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Lincoln

Damariscotta

1/22/2026: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Central Lincoln County YMCA, 525 Main Street

1/31/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Lincoln Health-Watson Medical, 24 Miles St

Wiscasset

1/9/2026: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Wiscasset Community Center, 242 Gardiner Road, Route 27

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Oxford

Fryeburg

1/12/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 857 Main Street

Norway

1/23/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., MaineHealth Stephens Hospital, 193 Main St

Paris

1/14/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Moss Brook Church, 496 High St

Porter

1/19/2026: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Porter Town Hall, 71 Main St

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Penobscot

Bangor

1/9/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hollywood Casino, 500 Main Street

1/16/2026: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, 489 State St

1/24/2026: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saint Marys Church, 768  Ohio Street

1/30/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., American Red Cross, 900b Hammond St

Dexter

1/19/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Dexter VFW, 20 Cedar Street

Lincoln

1/8/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Lincoln Knights of Columbus, 1003 West Broadway

Newport

1/16/2026: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Peoples United Methodist Church, 131 Main Street

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Somerset

Madison

1/5/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., VFW, 58 Preble Avenue

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Waldo

Belfast

1/8/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Little River Church, 259 Northport Ave, Belfast

1/22/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Little River Church, 259 Northport Ave, Belfast

Thorndike

1/23/2026: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Mt. View High School, 577 Mt View Rd.

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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.

 

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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