Blood Donations Needed During Holiday Season: Upcoming Charleston Drives

CHARLESTON, SC — The American Red Cross' blood supply is at historically low levels as the holiday season approaches.

Blood donations typically wane during the holiday season, but the shortage is being compounded by the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Red Cross.

People who give blood or plasma through Dec. 16 will be entered for a chance to win a private screening of "The Matrix Resurrections." The winner and 50 friends will be able to see the movie in a theater, plus the Red Cross will give the winner a $750 gift card for concessions.

Those who donate through Dec. 16 also will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card.

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

• 12/7/2021: 3 p.m. - 8 p.m., Rotary Club of Daniel Island, 299 Seven Farms Drive (Charleston)
• 12/7/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/8/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/9/2021: 9:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/9/2021: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., South Carolina Federal Credit Union, 6265 Rivers Avenue (North Charleston)
• 12/10/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., MarineMax, 142 Sportsman Island Dr (Charleston)
• 12/10/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/10/2021: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Julian Devine Community Center, 1 Cooper Street (Charleston)
• 12/11/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/11/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Beta Kappa Lambda Chapter, 1919 Bolton Avenue (Charleston)
• 12/12/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/12/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., James Island Presbyterian Church, 1632 Fort Johnson Rd (Charleston)
• 12/13/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/14/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/15/2021: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Kings Cross Church, 2011 Clements Ferry Rd (Charleston)
• 12/15/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/16/2021: 9:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/17/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/18/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 2 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/19/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/20/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/21/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, 109 Bee St (Charleston)
• 12/21/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/21/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., In Honor of Lamar - at Red Cross Chapter Office, 2424 City Hall Lane (Charleston)
• 12/21/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Synter Resource Group, 5935 Rivers Ave, Suite 102 (North Charleston)
• 12/22/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., MUSC Horseshoe, 171 Ashley Ave. (Charleston)
• 12/22/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/22/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., North Charleston Rotary Club at North Charleston Marriott, 4770 Goer Drive (Charleston)
• 12/22/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Crews Subaru Showroom, 8261 Rivers Ave (North Charleston)
• 12/23/2021: 9:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/23/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Crews Subaru Showroom, 8261 Rivers Ave (North Charleston)
• 12/24/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/26/2021: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/27/2021: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd (Charleston)
• 12/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., American Red Cross Chapter, 2424 City Hall Lane (N Charleston)

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

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.

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.