Orange County Area Red Cross Blood Drives Coming Up Soon

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The coronavirus pandemic has put many things on hold for the past year, but the need for local blood donations hasn’t ebbed.

The pandemic, combined with severe weather in much of the country, has challenged the nation's blood supply. All blood types are needed, especially type O.

In most states, donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health; some states allow 16-year-olds to donate with parental consent. Donors 18 years old and younger need to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Red Cross blood drives follow coronavirus safety protocols including temperature screening, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff.

Here are the Red Cross blood drives coming up in the Orange County area in the next couple weeks. You can search for additional Red Cross blood drives from a wider area here.

• 3/24/2021: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m., St Timothy Catholic Church, 29102 Crown Valley Pkwy (Laguna Niguel)
• 3/24/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Placentia Presbyterian Church, 849 Bradford Avenue (Placentia)
• 3/24/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr (Laguna Hills)
• 3/24/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St (Fountain Valley)
• 3/24/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Fullerton Blood Donation Center, 1144 Rosecrans Ave (Fullerton)
• 3/24/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Santa Ana Blood Donation Center, 600 Parkcenter Drive (Santa Ana)
• 3/24/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., St Timothy Catholic Church, 29102 Crown Valley Pkwy (Laguna Niguel)
• 3/25/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Antis Roofing, 2649 Campus Dr (Irvine)
• 3/25/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mariners Church, 5001 Newport Coast Dr (Irvine)
• 3/25/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St (Fountain Valley)
• 3/25/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Santa Ana Blood Donation Center, 600 Parkcenter Drive (Santa Ana)
• 3/25/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m., Fullerton Blood Donation Center, 1144 Rosecrans Ave (Fullerton)
• 3/25/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 6 p.m., Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr (Laguna Hills)
• 3/25/2021: 2:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8702 Atlanta (Huntington Beach)
• 3/26/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St (Fountain Valley)
• 3/26/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Fullerton Blood Donation Center, 1144 Rosecrans Ave (Fullerton)
• 3/26/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr (Laguna Hills)
• 3/26/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Santa Ana Blood Donation Center, 600 Parkcenter Drive (Santa Ana)
• 3/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Boys and Girls Club, 950 W Highland St (Santa Ana)
• 3/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center, 6640 Alton Pkwy (Irvine)
• 3/27/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Santa Ana Blood Donation Center, 600 Parkcenter Drive (Santa Ana)
• 3/27/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St (Fountain Valley)
• 3/27/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fullerton Blood Donation Center, 1144 Rosecrans Ave (Fullerton)
• 3/27/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr (Laguna Hills)
• 3/28/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St (Fountain Valley)
• 3/28/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Santa Ana Blood Donation Center, 600 Parkcenter Drive (Santa Ana)
• 3/28/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Fullerton Blood Donation Center, 1144 Rosecrans Ave (Fullerton)
• 3/28/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr (Laguna Hills)
• 3/29/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Labeltronix, 2419 E Winston Rd (Anaheim)
• 3/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Kaiser Permanente Orange County Irvine Medical Center, 6640 Alton Pkwy (Irvine)
• 3/29/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Orangethorpe United Methodist Church, 2351 W Orangethorpe Ave (Fullerton)
• 3/29/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Starbucks, 2301 N Tustin Ave #A (Santa Ana)
• 3/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Mission Viejo City Hall, 200 Civic Center Dr (Mission Viejo)
• 3/29/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Fountain Valley Blood Donation Center, 17800 Newhope St (Fountain Valley)
• 3/29/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Laguna Hills Blood Donation Center, 22971 Mill Creek Dr (Laguna Hills)

Click here to see more Red Cross blood drives in the Orange County area, or search for others nearby.

Editor's note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by the American Red Cross. The local blood drives included in the list are limited to those in the Red Cross data. Please report any errors or other feedback to content@patch.com. Know of another blood drive coming up in your area? You can add it to the Patch calendar using this form.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. Appointments can be made via the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, online or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Red Cross is testing all donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The antibodies may indicate a person's immune system developed antibodies in response to a coronavirus infection or a vaccine. Plasma from whole blood donations that tests positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used in convalescent plasma treatments for coronavirus patients.

COVID-19 antibody test results will be available to donors within two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity, according to the Red Cross.