What Can You Do With Your Donor T-Shirt Collection?

Picture this: You’re out running errands, working out at the gym or working in your office. Suddenly you see a familiar logo on a shirt, a bright red cross, a symbol of hope and an inspiring call to action. The overall design of the T-shirt may vary; the Red Cross has given away hundreds of T-shirts over the years, each with a unique and often playful design that blood donors can wear with pride.

Collecting these shirts has become a hobby for blood, platelet and plasma donors across the U.S. As their collections have grown, many donors have gotten creative, finding unique ways to display and share their donor pride with others. One such way is through the creation of t-shirt quilts, unique blankets formed from a patchwork design of their most beloved donor tees. Donors have shared these quilts on social media and some even use them to keep warm at their donation appointments.

This creativity even inspired the Red Cross. As Gail McGovern celebrated her departure as CEO of the Red Cross, she was presented with her very own one-of-a-kind donor T-shirt quilt, which remained on display during her farewell celebrations.

These quilts and the tees that make them are more than just a fun way to show off your swag. They’re also a way to acknowledge the compassion, generosity and selflessness it takes to be a blood donor. Every day, countless individuals donate their lifesaving gift to help people they may never meet. The impact of blood donors is limitless. While we know they don’t do it for the gifts, we hope these gifts remind them just how grateful patients and their families are for their amazing gift.