Blood Donors Needed In Richmond Area: Red Cross Drives Coming Up Soon

RICHMOND, VA — The coronavirus pandemic has put many things on hold for the past year, but the need for local blood donations hasn’t ebbed.

The pandemic, combined with severe weather in much of the country, has challenged the nation's blood supply. All blood types are needed, especially type O.

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.

Red Cross blood drives follow coronavirus safety protocols including temperature screening, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff.

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

• 3/24/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Pace Center, 700 W Franklin Street, Next to VCU Brandt-Rhoads Residence Halls (Richmond)
• 3/25/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Dominion Payroll, 3200 Rockbridge Street, Suite 300 (Richmond)
• 3/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., VCU Health at One Capitol Square, 830 East Main St., 12th Floor- The Madison Conference Room (Richmond)
• 3/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hilton - Richmond Downtown, 501 E. Broad Street (Richmond)
• 3/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., VA Monroe Building, 101 N. Fourteenth Street (Richmond)
• 3/27/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Four Mile Creek Baptist Church, 2950 New Market Rd. (Henrico)
• 3/30/2021: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Richmond's First Baptist Church, 2709 Monument Avenue (Richmond)
• 3/31/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott Richmond Downtown, 1320 E Cary St. (Richmond)
• 3/31/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Northside Family YMCA, 4207 Old Brook Rd (Richmond)
• 4/1/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Avenue (Richmond)
• 4/1/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Transformation Church RVA, 6000 Iron Bridge Rd (Richmond)
• 4/2/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1627 Monument Avenue (Richmond)
• 4/2/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Chesterfield Towne Center, 11500 Midlothian Turnpike (Richmond)
• 4/5/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Manchester Family YMCA, 7540 Hull Street Road (Richmond)
• 4/7/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Virginia Union University, 1500 N Lombardy Street (Richmond)

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 in the Red Cross data. 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.

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.

The Red Cross is testing all donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The antibodies may indicate a person's immune system developed antibodies in response to a coronavirus infection or a vaccine. Plasma from whole blood donations that tests positive for high levels of COVID-19 antibodies may be used in convalescent plasma treatments for coronavirus patients.

COVID-19 antibody test results will be available to donors within two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity, according to the Red Cross.