Red Cross in need of immediate blood and Platlate donations

KENNEWICK — The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage due to an approximate 35% drawdown of blood products in just the past month. The Red Cross urges individuals to give now so patients don’t face delays in lifesaving care. The need for platelets and blood types O, A negative, and B negative is especially dire.  

High flu activity this year has slowed efforts to rebuild the Red Cross’s national blood supply. Without immediate action, patients who count on transfusions, including trauma victims, mothers in childbirth, and sickle cell disease and cancer patients, face serious risk.  

There’s no time to wait — book an appointment to give blood or platelets now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).  

As a thank-you to donors  for helping tackle the blood shortage, those who come to give through Jan. 25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area, including, access to day-of, in-stadium pregame activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations, and a $1,000 gift card for expenses. See http://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/events/super_bowl.html for details. 

Donors who give between Jan. 26 and Feb. 28, 2026, will receive a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. Visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/events/heart.html for details. 

About 400 blood drives were impacted due to extreme winter weather last month alone —more than three times the number of blood drives affected during the same time the previous year. As a result, thousands of blood donations have gone uncollected. With intense winter weather and freezing temperatures expected across much of the country in the coming weeks, more blood drives could potentially be delayed or canceled at a time when every unit of blood could be the difference for doctors facing difficult choices about which patients receive blood transfusions and who will need to wait. 

“Winter always puts pressure on the blood supply, and this year widespread flu and rough weather are making it even tougher,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of Red Cross donor services. “If you’re able, now’s a great time to make and keep blood donation appointments, during National Blood Donor Month. Every donation can be a lifeline for a patient who isn’t able to hold off on critical care.” 

Below are blood drive dates and locations in Walla Walla, Kennewick, and Richland:

Walla Walla

Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Providence St. Mary Medical Center, 401 W. Poplar St.

January 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Foundry Vineyards, 1111 Abadie St.

Kennewick

Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kennewick Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7105 W 10th Ave

Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Cadwell Industries, 909 N Kellogg St.

Feb. 3, from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., St. Joseph’s Parish, 506 S. Garfield St.

And by appointment at Kennewick Blood Donation Center, 7202 W Deschutes Ave.

Richland

Jan. 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kadlec Medical Center, 888 Swift Blvd.

Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Richland High School, 930 Long Ave.

Feb. 2, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 895 Gage Blvd.

Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Consolidated Information Center, 2770 Crimson Way