Red Cross Offers Amazon Gift Card For Blood Donations: Upcoming Drives Near Columbia

COLUMBIA, SC — Blood donation appointments have increased since the American Red Cross declared its first-ever blood shortage crisis, but winter storms have dampened momentum.

The number of Red Cross blood donors declined 10 percent since the pandemic began. Ongoing blood drive cancellations due to the pandemic and winter weather have complicated efforts. Hundreds of blood drives were canceled in January due to winter storms.

The Red Cross collects about 40 percent of the country's blood donation supply.

People who donate blood or plasma through the Red Cross during February will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card.

People who give blood or plasma during January will automatically be entered to win two tickets to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, California. The package includes round-trip airfare, entry to the official NFL tailgate event and three-night hotel accommodations, plus a $500 gift card for other expenses.

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

• 1/21/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 2 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/21/2022: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Lourie Life and Health, 3321 Forest Dr (Columbia)
• 1/22/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 2 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/23/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/23/2022: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow Street (Columbia)
• 1/24/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/25/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/25/2022: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, 125 Sparkleberry Lane (Columbia)
• 1/26/2022: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., American Red Cross, 2751 Bull Street (Columbia)
• 1/26/2022: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., SCEIS, 1628 Browning Road, Suite 100 (Columbia)
• 1/26/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/27/2022: 9:45 a.m. - 5 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/27/2022: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Midlands Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery, 1910 Blanding Street (Columbia)
• 1/28/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 2 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/28/2022: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Rice Creek Elementary School S.A.I.L, 4751 Hardscrabble Road (Columbia)
• 1/29/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 2 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/30/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 1/31/2022: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Mt Olive Lutheran Church, 1541 Lake Murray Blvd. (Columbia)
• 1/31/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/1/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/2/2022: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 1100 Sumter Street (Columbia)
• 2/2/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/3/2022: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Prisma Health Parkridge, 400 Parkridge Drive (Columbia)
• 2/3/2022: 9:45 a.m. - 5 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/4/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 2 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/5/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 2 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/6/2022: 6:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/6/2022: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ashland UMC, 2600 Ashland Road (Columbia)
• 2/6/2022: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Aloft Yoga Studio, 208 Candi Ln, Suite A (Columbia)
• 2/7/2022: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fort Jackson Community Moncrief, Fort Jackson US Army Garrison, 4325 Jackson Blvd (Columbia)
• 2/7/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/8/2022: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Columbia National Guard, 1225 Bluff Road (Columbia)
• 2/8/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/9/2022: 11:45 a.m. - 7 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)
• 2/10/2022: 9:45 a.m. - 5 p.m., Columbia Blood Donation Center, 2751 Bull St (Columbia)

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