17th annual Red Cross St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive

It’s Time To Fly and that means rolling up a sleeve and helping us save lives. The St. Louis Cardinals, Fox Sports Midwest and the American Red Cross invite fans to donate blood at the 17th annual St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive June 17-19. Everyone who attempts to donate will receive a specially designed St. Louis Cardinals T-shirt, while supplies last, and a $5 Amazon gift card code.

The St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive always comes at a critical time of year, but this year has presented new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who have a desire to help others can step up to the plate and help save lives by participating in this year’s event. There are 17 locations associated with this year’s drive.  

Since its inception in 2004, more than 13,350 blood donations have been collected at the St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive. This year we are anticipating collecting more than 900 donations of lifesaving blood.

17th Annual St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive:

Wednesday, June 17

• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Elks Lodge #1721, 4 Elks Drive, Crystal City, MO.
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Meramec Arnold Elks, 1515 Miller Road, Imperial, MO.
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Withers Broadcasting/Dana Communications, South 27th St., Mount Vernon, IL
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Cornerstone United Methodist Church, 1151 Tom Ginnever Ave., O’Fallon, MO
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Orlando’s Banquet Room, 4300 Hoffmeister Ave., St. Louis, MO.
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Greater Alton Church, 506 East Airline Drive, East Alton, IL.
• 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Eagle Springs Golf Course, 2575 Redman Ave., St. Louis, MO.

Thursday, June 18

• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Favazz’s on the Hill, 5201 Southwest Ave., St. Louis, MO.
• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Lion’s Den, 1001 St. Louis Ave., Valley Park, MO.
• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Ballwin Community Center, 1 Ballwin Commons Circle Drive, Ballwin, MO.
• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Washington Elks Lodge #1559, 1459 West Fifth St., Washington, MO.
• 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Woods Fort Restaurant & Banquet Center, #1 Country Club Drive, Troy, MO.
• Noon to 6 p.m. at Potosi Elks Lodge #2218, 10202 W. Highway E, Potosi, MO.
• Noon to 6 p.m. at St. Charles Elks Lodge, 560 St. Peters Howell Road, St. Charles, MO.

Friday, June 19

• Noon to 6 p.m. at Farmington Community Civic Center, 2 Black Night Drive, Farmington, MO.
• Noon to 6 p.m. at St. Luke’s UMC, 2761 Telegraph Road, St. Louis, MO.
• Noon to 6 p.m. at Downtown Belleville YMCA, 200 S. Illinois St., Belleville, IL.

This drive comes as the Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Amazon, all those who come to give June 1-30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Restrictions apply. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to ensure the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance. 

Donors of all blood types are needed at this year’s St. Louis Cardinals Blood Drive. Those with types O, A negative and B negative blood are encouraged to make a Power Red donation at this blood drive. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact. During this type of donation, red blood cells are separated from other blood components, and the plasma and platelets are safely and comfortably returned to the donor.

Donated blood may be used to help accident victims, surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease. There is no substitute for donated blood products. Each day, the Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 blood donations to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,500 hospitals across the country.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, schedule online and enter sponsor code CARDS or call 1-800-RED CROSS, or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass^® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, from a computer or mobile device on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.