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

GWINNETT, GA — The Red Cross has an emergency need for eligible blood donors as surgeries and other procedures ramp up as the coronavirus pandemic recedes.

The need is especially great for platelet donations, which are primarily given to cancer patients during treatment. Platelet donations must be transfused within five days and are always in high demand due to their short shelf life.

“Many cancer patients, especially those going through chemotherapy, will have a need for blood products during treatment,” said Dr. Baia Lasky, medical director for the Red Cross, in a statement. “When someone donates blood or platelets, they may not only help prevent life-threatening bleeding that can cause stroke, or relieve some symptoms like shortness of breath and headaches, but also give patients and their families the time and hope they need to fight back.”

Many cancer patients were forced to delay or cancel procedures early in the pandemic to reduce risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

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

• 6/2/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/2/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Heartis Senior Living, 4055 Suwanee Dam Road (Suwanee)
• 6/3/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/3/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Celebration Church, 5560 Thompson Mill Rd (Hoschton)
• 6/4/2021: 9:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/4/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Forum, 5185 Peachtree Parkway (Peachtree Corners)
• 6/4/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., City Hall, 2342 Oak Road (Snellville)
• 6/5/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/6/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/6/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Next Level Fitcamp Dacula, 1152 Auburn Road, Ste 204 (Dacula)
• 6/7/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/7/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Harmony Grove United Methodist Church, 50 Harmony Grove Road (Lilburn)
• 6/8/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Grayson City Hall, 475 Grayson Parkway (Grayson)
• 6/8/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., City of Sugar Hill - E Center, 5009 West Broad Street (Sugar Hill)
• 6/9/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Perry Rainey Center, 16 College Street (Auburn)
• 6/9/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/9/2021: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Duluth First United Methodist Church, 3208 Hwy 120 (Duluth)
• 6/9/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Grayson City Hall, 475 Grayson Parkway (Grayson)
• 6/10/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/11/2021: 9:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/11/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Gwinnett County Employees, 75 Langley Drive (Lawrenceville)
• 6/12/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/13/2021: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/14/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Christ The King Lutheran, 5575 Peachtree Parkway (Norcross)
• 6/14/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Gwinnett Church - Sugar Hill, 300 Peachtree Industrial Blvd (Sugar Hill)
• 6/14/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Corinth Christian Church, 1635 Hwy 81 SW (Loganville)
• 6/15/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/15/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Gwinnett Church - Sugar Hill, 300 Peachtree Industrial Blvd (Sugar Hill)
• 6/16/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/16/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Studio 87 Yoga, 87 S. Peachtree St (Norcross)
• 6/17/2021: 2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Tucker First United Methodist Church, 2397 Fourth Street (Tucker)
• 6/17/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)
• 6/18/2021: 9:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m., Duluth Blood Donation Center, 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500 (Duluth)

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

People who have received a coronavirus vaccine can donate blood so long as they are symptom-free, feeling well and can provide the vaccine manufacturer's name, according to the American Red Cross. There is no waiting period after getting a vaccine dose.

All blood types are needed, especially type O, to refuel the country’s blood stockpile for the spring and summer.

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.