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

KANSAS CITY, MO — The U.S. faces a severe blood supply shortage, and the Red Cross urges people of all blood types to donate.

People who donate blood, platelets or plasma during October will receive an offer for a free Zaxby's signature sandwich. Donors who don't live near a Zaxby's can receive a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.

The Red Cross is aiming to increase the number of Black blood donors in order to help patients with sickle cell anemia. The majority of the 100,000 people in the U.S. with the disease are Black. More than half of Black blood donors have blood that serves as the best match for blood transfusions.

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

• 10/4/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Hillsong Kansas City, 2620 Burlington (Kansas City)
• 10/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., HJ’s Youth and Community Center, 6425 Wornall Rd (Kansas City)
• 10/8/2021: 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Swope Parkway Church of Christ, 5620 Swope Parkway (Kansas City)
• 10/9/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Northland Baptist Church, 7101 NW Waukomis Dr (Kansas City)
• 10/12/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kansas City Public Library, 4801 Main Street (Kansas City)
• 10/12/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Raytown Chapel United Methodist Church, 5413 Blue Ridge Cutoff (Raytown)
• 10/15/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Kansas City Church, 7700 N. Church Rd (Kansas City)
• 10/15/2021: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Platte County Community Center North, 3101 Running Horse Road (Platte City)

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.

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.

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.