Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 02, 2018) – The Huntsville American Red Cross invites the community to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony and news conference announcing the grand opening of its new building, Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 10:00 a.m. at 1015 Airport Road S.W., in Huntsville.
To better serve the community and surrounding areas, the new facility opened Oct. 18, 2018. In addition to a blood donation center, it includes an updated work space. These enhancements provide additional blood donation opportunities to help ensure patients receive the products they need. The facility will also allow the Red Cross to be more efficient in delivering vital humanitarian services, disaster relief and health and safety classes to the community.
“We’re happy to introduce the new facility to the community and we are excited offer a more comfortable and productive setting for our blood donors and volunteers,” said Ronnika A. McFall, external communications manager of the Red Cross Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Blood Services Region. “The ribbon cutting ceremony and news conference marks the launch of a new era for the Red Cross in Huntsville, and we are excited to welcome the community to participate.”
The news conference and ribbon cutting ceremony will feature Khris Anderson, executive director for the Red Cross Alabama Region, Justin Brewer, Red Cross board of director chair, local blood donors, recipients and community supporters.
The new hours of operation for the Red Cross Huntsville Blood Donation Center are Mondays and Tuesdays, noon to 8 p.m., Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center is closed Thursdays.
During FY18, in Alabama, the Red Cross assisted 2,600 families in response to local disasters, including house fires; helped an estimated 5,100 military members, veterans and their families; and trained nearly 36,760 community members in health and safety.
In the Alabama and Central Gulf Coast Blood Services Region, approximately 58,836 pints of blood and more than 9,355 units of platelets were donated through the Red Cross from generous donors. The Red Cross must collect more than 13,000 donations every day to keep up with demand. Locally, on average, approximately 167 donations are needed each day from area blood donors in the Alabama Region.
How to donate blood
Simply download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) 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 and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from a computer or mobile device. 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 percent 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, CruzRojaAmericana.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.