The American Red Cross is asking people to donate blood due to a sudden shortage.
The American Red Cross encourages people of all blood types to donate and find a donating center nearby, Ronnika McFall with Red Cross communications said.
“We strive to keep a five-day supply on hand at all times,” McFall said.
The supply helps hospitals provide for their patients’ needs and is also used in the event of a disaster where large amounts of blood are needed. The blood shortage is a result of summer vacation, McFall said.
“The summer months can be among the most challenging time of the year for blood collections as regular donors delay giving while they take vacations, they participate in summer activities, and they prepare for school to start,” she said.
According to a press release from the American Red Cross, donating blood is a life-saving act that takes a short amount of time. From start to finish, the entire process takes about an hour; however, the drawing of the blood takes about 8-10 minutes.
Donors should prepare by eating foods that contain iron, drink plenty of water and bring at least two forms of ID for check-in.
As an incentive, Amazon is giving a free $5 gift card to every donor until August 29 for their donation.
You can register for an appointment via your Amazon Alexa by saying “Alexa, find a blood drive.” You may also log on to RedCrossBlood.org, use the Red Cross Blood Donor app, or dial 1-800-733-2767.
See the list below to find a donation center near you.
Gwinnett County
- Buford
8/17/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive
8/18/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive
8/30/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive
8/31/2019: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Mall of Georgia, 3333 Buford Drive
- Lilburn
8/18/2019: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Oak Road Lutheran Church, 1004 Oak Road
8/19/2019: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Brusters Ice Cream Five Forks Trickum, 5314 Five Forks Trickum
8/28/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Lilburn Activity Bldg (LAB), 788 Hillcrest Road
- Lawrenceville
8/20/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Prospect United Methodist Church, 1549 Prospect Road NE
- Peachtree Corners
8/26/2019: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners, 475 Technology Pkwy NW
- Dacula
8/28/2019: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Apalachee Farms, 1001 Dacula Road
Jackson County
- Jefferson
8/26/2019: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 246 Washington Street
Hall County
- Gainesville
8/20/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Lakeshore Mall, 150 Pearl Nix Parkway, Across hall from Books-A-Million, 2 stores down from JC Penny in vacant store front
Habersham County
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Demorest
8/27/2019: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Piedmont College, 165 Central Avenue
White County
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Cleveland
8/22/2019: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., First Baptist Church, 25 Church Street
