VFW Post 8241 Hosts Lifesaving Blood Drive as Need for Donors Rises

VFW Post 8241 in McLean will host a community blood drive on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Post’s Meeting Hall located at 1051 Spring Hill Road. The Post is inviting everyone to participate in this important community event.

Blood donations remain critically important as hospitals across the region continue to face high demand. “Every unit of blood collected helps save lives,” said Post 8241 community outreach coordinator, Chas Wintermeyer. “This is an easy, meaningful way to directly support people in our community.”

This year’s drive includes an important eligibility update: individuals who served in Europe or the United Kingdom during the 1980s, previously restricted due to concerns about Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (commonly associated with the “mad cow” era), are now eligible to donate again under new Red Cross guidelines.

Donors with blood types O, A-negative, and B-negative are especially encouraged to consider a Power Red donation, which allows them to help even more patients through a specialized collection process.

Participants can streamline their donation by completing the RapidPass pre-screening on the day of their appointment using RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.

Appointments can be made online at RedCrossBlood.org, through the Blood Donor App, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.