San Diego Area Red Cross Blood Drives Coming Up Soon

SAN DIEGO, 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 San Diego area in the next couple weeks. You can search for additional Red Cross blood drives from a wider area here.

• 3/24/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Christ United Methodist Ministry Center, 3295 Meade Ave (San Diego)
• 3/24/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Logan Temple A.M.E Zion Church, 302 S 32nd St (San Diego)
• 3/24/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 3/25/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 3/25/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Parkway (San Diego)
• 3/26/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 3/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The US Grant, 326 Broadway (San Diego)
• 3/27/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 3/28/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 3/29/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 3/30/2021: 10:15 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Rock Church City Heights, 4001 El Cajon Blvd (San Diego)
• 3/30/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 3/31/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross Chapter Main Building, 3950 Calle Fortunada (San Diego)
• 3/31/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Torrey Pines Church, 8320 La Jolla Scenic Dr N (La Jolla)
• 3/31/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Residence Inn, 8901 Gilman Drive (La Jolla)
• 3/31/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 4/1/2021: 10:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 4/2/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 4/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hope Worldwide the Mission at Keil’s Fresh Food Store, 7403 Jackson Dr (San Diego)
• 4/3/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 4/4/2021: 9:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 4/5/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 4/6/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Delta Air Lines, 3835 N Harbor Dr, Terminal 2 (San Diego)
• 4/6/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Civita Park, 7960 Civita Blvd (San Diego)
• 4/6/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)
• 4/6/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church of SD, 5055 Governor Drive (San Diego)
• 4/7/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., YMCA of San Diego County: Corporate Office, 3708 Ruffin Road (San Diego)
• 4/7/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m., Kearny Mesa Blood Donation Center, 4229 Ponderosa Ave., Suite C (San Diego)

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.