Blood Donors Needed In Boise Area: Red Cross Drives Coming Up Soon

BOISE, ID — The Red Cross and other blood donation organizations are working to bolster the country's blood supply as the pandemic wanes.

Those who give blood, platelets or plasma through the Red Cross in May will be entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five from Suburban Propane. The Red Cross will also give donors a T-shirt between May 28 and June 13 while supplies last.

Actor James Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, are urging people to donate blood this summer. Kimberly Van Der Beek needed blood transfusions in the past year after she experienced back-to-back pregnancy losses.

"Donating blood is something that I’ve always done throughout my life,” James Van Der Beek said. “It seemed important. But I never knew how important until the woman I love most was in a situation where that much blood made the difference between life and death. It just brought it home in a very real way.”

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

• 5/20/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., One Capital Center, 999 Main Street, One Capital Center (Boise)
• 5/20/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Summit Church, 10375 Overland Road (Boise)
• 5/20/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/21/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/22/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/23/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/24/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/25/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/25/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Bogus Basin Building, 3229 Bogus Basin Road (Boise)
• 5/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Discovery Center of Idaho, 131 W Myrtle St. (Boise)
• 5/26/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Salvation Army, 9492 W. Emerald Street (Boise)
• 5/27/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/28/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/28/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., One Capital Center, 999 Main Street, One Capital Center (Boise)
• 5/29/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/30/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 5/31/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/1/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/1/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 11655 W McMillan Rd (Boise)
• 6/2/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., One Capital Center, 999 Main Street, One Capital Center (Boise)
• 6/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Boise State University Student Union Building, 1910 W University Drive (Boise)
• 6/3/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/4/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., One Capital Center, 999 Main Street, One Capital Center (Boise)
• 6/4/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/5/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/5/2021: 9:30 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Boise Eagles #115, 7025 Overland Road (Boise)
• 6/6/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/7/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Boise Downtown, 348 S 13th St (Boise)
• 6/8/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)
• 6/9/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Boise Blood Donation Center, 5380 Franklin Road (Boise)

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 at the time the Red Cross data was pulled. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org for the most current listing of drives. 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.

People who have received a coronavirus vaccine can donate blood so long as they are symptom-free, feeling well and can provide the vaccine manufacturer's name, according to the American Red Cross. There is no waiting period after getting a vaccine dose.

All blood types are needed, especially type O, to refuel the country’s blood stockpile for the spring and summer.

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.

People who donate blood, platelets or plasma in May through the Red Cross will be automatically entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five from Suburban Propane. Anyone who donates through May 15 will receive a $5 Amazon gift card by email courtesy of Suburban Propane.

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.