As many gather for Thanksgiving celebrations with family and friends, the American Red Cross urges donors to shake up their holiday traditions and plan a time to give blood in the coming weeks.
Blood and platelet donations tend to drop more than 20% during holiday weeks, including the days around Thanksgiving. Seasonal illness and the threat of winter weather can add more concern during a time of year that is traditionally hard on the nation’s blood supply.
Give thanks and give back – now is the time to make and keep donation appointments. Book a time to give blood at RedCrossBlood.org. As a thank-you, all who come to donate Nov. 23-27 will get an exclusive Red Cross beanie, while supplies last. Thanks to our partners at Amazon, all donors who come to give blood Nov. 28-Dec. 15 will receive a $10 Gift card by email.*
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Fairfield County – Nov. 21-Dec. 15
Bridgeport
12/9/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Avenue
12/14/2022: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bridgeport Hospital, 200 Mill Hill Avenue
12/14/2022: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Bridgeport Hospital, 200 Mill Hill Avenue
Cos Cob
12/5/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Greenwich Reform Synagogue, 92 Orchard St
Danbury
11/26/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., St. Anthony Maronite Church, 17 Granville Avenue
11/29/2022: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Danbury Hospital RSM, 24 Hospital Avenue
12/6/2022: 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Danbury Hospital RSM, 24 Hospital Avenue
Darien
12/8/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Congregational Church of Darien, 14 Brookside Road
Easton
11/21/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Road
Fairfield
11/30/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue
11/30/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Sacred Heart University, 5151 Park Avenue
12/7/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Gaelic American Club, 74 Beach Road
12/10/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., St. Pius Parish Center, 834 Brookside Drive
12/14/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Congregation Beth El, 1200 Fairfield Woods Road
Greenwich
11/21/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
11/22/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
11/28/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
11/29/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
12/3/2022: 8 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Greenwich Public Safety Complex/New Greenwich Police Department, 11 Bruce Place
12/5/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
12/6/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
12/12/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
12/13/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 4:45 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
12/13/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., YMCA of Greenwich, 50 East Putnam Avenue
12/15/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Greenwich Blood Donation Center, 99 Indian Field Road
New Fairfield
12/12/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., New Fairfield Congregational Church, 20 Gillotti Road
Newtown
12/9/2022: 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
12/9/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
Norwalk
11/23/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., American Legion, 60 County Road
12/5/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. Ann’s Club, 16 Hendricks Avenue
12/9/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Ave
12/13/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Philip’s Church, 25 France Street
Ridgefield
11/21/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Congregational Church – Ridgefield, 103 Main St.
12/1/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Ridgefield Park & Recreation Center, 195 Danbury Rd.
Shelton
12/2/2022: 8 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., R.D. Scinto Towers, 2 Corporate Drive
12/14/2022: 12:45 p.m. – 5 p.m., Gardner Heights Healthcare Center, 172 Rocky Rest Road
12/14/2022: 9 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Gardner Heights Healthcare Center, 172 Rocky Rest Road
Stamford
11/21/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., First Presbyterian Church Stamford, 1101 Bedford St
11/23/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Road
11/26/2022: 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Avenue
12/8/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Road
12/8/2022: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Road
12/10/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Anam Cara Irish Dance School, 72 Camp Avenue
Stratford
12/1/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Raymond T. Goldbach VFW Post, 100 Veterans Boulevard
Trumbull
12/13/2022: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 White Plains Road
12/13/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 White Plains Road
12/14/2022: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Insports Centers, 29 Trefoil Drive
Westport
11/30/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Green’s Farms Church, 71 Hillandale Road
12/7/2022: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Westport Library, Arnold Bernhard Plaza, 20 Jesup Road
12/15/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., VFW, 465 Riverside Avenue
Wilton
11/28/2022: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Strong Comstock Community Center, 180 School Road
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.