Blood Donations Needed In Charleston Area: Red Cross Drives Coming Up Soon

CHARLESTON, SC — The U.S. faces a critical 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 Charleston area in the next few weeks. You can search for additional Red Cross blood drives from a wider area here.

• 10/1/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., MARINEMAX, 142 Sportsman Island Dr (Charleston)
• 10/1/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/2/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/3/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/3/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Blessed Sacrament, 5 Saint Teresa Dr (Charleston)
• 10/4/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/5/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., MUSC Students Wellness Center, 45 Courtenay Drive (Charleston)
• 10/5/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/6/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, 109 Bee St (Charleston)
• 10/6/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/7/2021: 9:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/7/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., College of Charleston Stern Center, College of Charleston, 71 George St. (Charleston)
• 10/8/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Middleton Place Plantation, 4300 Ashley River Road (Charleston)
• 10/9/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/10/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/10/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Westminster Presbyterian, 1157 Sam Rittenberg (Charleston)
• 10/10/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Bethel UMC Charleston, 57 Pitt Street (Charleston)
• 10/11/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/12/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/12/2021: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., South Carolina Federal Credit Union, 6265 Rivers Avenue (North Charleston)
• 10/12/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Crews Chevrolet, 8199 Rivers Ave (North Charleston)
• 10/13/2021: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Citadel, 171 Moultrie Street (Charleston)
• 10/13/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Citadel, 171 Moultrie Street (Charleston)
• 10/13/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/14/2021: 9:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/14/2021: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., ABC News 4 at Citadel Mall, 2070 Sam Rittenberg Rd (Charleston)
• 10/14/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., ABC News 4 Blood Drive at Northwoods Mall, 2150 Northwoods Blvd., #60 (North Charleston)
• 10/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., ABC News 4 Blood Drive at Northwoods Mall, 2150 Northwoods Blvd., #60 (North Charleston)
• 10/15/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 10/15/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Charleston Southern University, 9200 University Blvd (Charleston)

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.