Red Cross seeing low blood donations, thanking donors with incentives

(ABC 6 NEWS) – The Red Cross is facing a blood shortage and they are asking you to donate if you can.

Right now the Red Cross is seeing the lowest donor turnout in more than a decade.

They are offering incentives for you to roll up your sleeve and give back.

Normally the Red Cross sees a rebound in blood donations during the fall, but this year they are not seeing that.

This could be because people are going back to in-person learning or no longer working from home.

The Red Cross is needing all blood types right now especially O+.

"We have had a pretty stable blood supply throughout the pandemic, but going into this fall I think hospital demand has increased at a time when donations are kind of dwindling," said Red Cross Regional Communications Manager, Sue Thesenga.

If you are healthy you are asked to sign up and donate.

The Red Cross needs to collect at least 10,000 more blood products each week in the coming weeks to meet the needs o patients in hospitals across the country.

"I think with the upcoming holiday season donating blood is a great way to give something that means something. The need is constant and you can rest assured that your blood donation is going to someone who really needs it and potentially giving that patient more time with their loved ones," said Thesenga.

Below is a list of upcoming Red Cross blood drives in our area:

11/16/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church in Austin
11/17/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hormel Historical Home in Austin
11/17/2021: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hayfield High School in Hayfield
11/18/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Community Center in Spring Valley
11/19/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., United Methodist Church in Chatfield
11/19/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., United Methodist Church in Albert Lea
11/26/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., North Bridge Mall in Albert Lea
11/29/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Southland High School in Adams
11/30/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Community Center in Harmony
11/30/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Crane Community Chapel in Austin

If you’d like to donate, you are asked to schedule an appointment through the Red Cross before arriving by clicking here.

The Red Cross is giving everyone who donates through Nov. 23 a $10 Amazon gift card, and if you donate Nov. 24-28 you can get a free pair of Red Cross socks.