Red Cross Blood Drives Coming Up In Columbus Area

COLUMBUS, OH — The Red Cross and other blood donation organizations are working to bolster the country's blood supply as the pandemic wanes.

Those who give blood, platelets or plasma through the Red Cross in May will be entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five from Suburban Propane. The Red Cross will also give donors a T-shirt between May 28 and June 13 while supplies last.

Actor James Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, are urging people to donate blood this summer. Kimberly Van Der Beek needed blood transfusions in the past year after she experienced back-to-back pregnancy losses.

"Donating blood is something that I’ve always done throughout my life,” James Van Der Beek said. “It seemed important. But I never knew how important until the woman I love most was in a situation where that much blood made the difference between life and death. It just brought it home in a very real way.”

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

• 5/20/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 5/20/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 3924 Home Road (Powell)
• 5/20/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., City of Powell, 47 Hall Street (Powell)
• 5/20/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW (Pickerington)
• 5/20/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Whetstone Metropolitan Library@North Broadway United Methodist Church, 48 E. Broadway (Columbus)
• 5/20/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Westbelt Blood Donation Center, 4327 Equity Drive (Columbus)
• 5/20/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Riverside Methodist Hospital, 3555 Olentangy River Road, Parking-Green Garage Area (Columbus)
• 5/20/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 5/20/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., American Red Cross, 995 E. Broad Street (Columbus)
• 5/20/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Guide Church - South Campus, 75 Hillard Rome Rd (Columbus)
• 5/20/2021: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., St. Cecilia Church, 434 Norton Road (Columbus)
• 5/20/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane (Gahanna)
• 5/20/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Vineyard Christian Fellowship, 3005 Holt Rd (Grove City)
• 5/21/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Alum Creek Church, 6256 South Old State Road (Lewis Center)
• 5/21/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., New Hope Reformed Church, 4739 W. Powell Road (Powell)
• 5/21/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., American Red Cross, 995 E. Broad Street (Columbus)
• 5/21/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 5/21/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Dublin Community Church, 81 W. Bridge St. (Dublin)
• 5/21/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane (Gahanna)
• 5/21/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Prairie Township Community Center, 5955 West Broad St (Galloway)
• 5/21/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., City of Grove City, 3226 Kingston Avenue (Grove City)
• 5/21/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Groveport United Methodist Church, 512 Main St (Groveport)
• 5/22/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 5/22/2021: 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Saint John XXIII Parish, 5170 Winchester Southern Road NW (Canal Winchester)
• 5/22/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 5/22/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Westbelt Blood Donation Center, 4327 Equity Drive (Columbus)
• 5/22/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Iron Workers Union Local No. 172, 2867 S High St (Columbus)
• 5/22/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane (Gahanna)
• 5/22/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., City of Upper Arlington, 3600 Tremont Rd (Upper Arlington)
• 5/23/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Polaris Blood Donation Center, 1327 Cameron Avenue, Oak Creek Building (Lewis Center)
• 5/23/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Red Cross, 995 E. Broad Street (Columbus)
• 5/23/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Carriage Place Blood Donation Center, 4820 Sawmill Road (Columbus)
• 5/23/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Northwest Chapel, 6700 Rings Road (Dublin)
• 5/23/2021: 7:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Stone Ridge Blood Donation Center, 337 Stoneridge Lane (Gahanna)
• 5/24/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Old Pier 1 Imports Building, 1320 Polaris Parkway (Columbus)

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

People who donate blood, platelets or plasma in May through the Red Cross will be automatically entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five from Suburban Propane. Anyone who donates through May 15 will receive a $5 Amazon gift card by email courtesy of Suburban Propane.

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.