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

COLUMBUS, OH — The American Red Cross' blood supply is at historically low levels as the holiday season approaches.

Blood donations typically wane during the holiday season, but the shortage is being compounded by the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Red Cross.

People who give blood or plasma through Dec. 16 will be entered for a chance to win a private screening of "The Matrix Resurrections." The winner and 50 friends will be able to see the movie in a theater, plus the Red Cross will give the winner a $750 gift card for concessions.

Those who donate through Dec. 16 also will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card.

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

• 12/7/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 12/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Road NW (Pickerington)
• 12/7/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Seminary, 2199 E Main St (Columbus)
• 12/7/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 12/7/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Church of the Redeemer United Methodist, 235 McNaughten Road (Columbus)
• 12/7/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane (Gahanna)
• 12/7/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Westerville Christian Church, 471 E College Avenue (Westerville)
• 12/7/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Worthington Education Association, 200 East Wilson Bridge Road (Worthington)
• 12/8/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 12/8/2021: 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., The Ohio Senate & House of Representatives, The Statehouse, Broad and High Street (Columbus)
• 12/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 995 E. Broad Street (Columbus)
• 12/8/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 12/8/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Germania Sport and Singing Society, 543 S. Front St. (Columbus)
• 12/8/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Dublin Community Church, 81 W. Bridge St. (Dublin)
• 12/8/2021: 12:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane (Gahanna)
• 12/8/2021: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital, 7277 Smiths Mill Road (New Albany)
• 12/8/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., YMCA of Central Ohio - Reynoldsburg Community Center YMCA, 1470 Davidson (Reynoldsburg)
• 12/9/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 12/9/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Logos Bible Church, 623 Hill Rd. N (Pickerington)
• 12/9/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Performance Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, 1130 Auto Mall Drive (Columbus)
• 12/9/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 12/9/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane (Gahanna)
• 12/9/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Warehouse 839, 3691 Main St (Hilliard)
• 12/9/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Westerville United Church of Christ, 770 County Line Rd. (Westerville)
• 12/10/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 12/10/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., German Village Society, 588 S 3rd St (Columbus)
• 12/10/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Main Hospital, 111 S. Grant Street (Columbus)
• 12/10/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Drive Direct, 4391 Cleveland Ave. (Columbus)
• 12/10/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Dublin Community Church, 81 W. Bridge St. (Dublin)
• 12/10/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane (Gahanna)
• 12/10/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mifflin Presbyterian Church, 123 Granville Street (Gahanna)
• 12/10/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Prairie Township Community Center, 5955 West Broad St (Galloway)
• 12/11/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 12/11/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way (Pickerington)
• 12/11/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)

Click here to see more Red Cross blood drives in the Columbus 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 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.