The American Red Cross and country music star Martina McBride have joined together this holiday season to remind people to take care of one another, sharing comfort and joy with hospital patients through the gift of blood donation. Health emergencies don’t pause for a pandemic or holiday celebrations. The Red Cross needs the help of blood donors across the country now to ensure patients continue to have access to lifesaving blood.
COVID-19 antibody testing of blood donations
The Red Cross is testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies which helps provide insight to donors concerning possible prior exposure to this virus. Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within one to two weeks through our Red Cross Blood Donor App or on the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. As part of this effort, plasma from whole blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may now help current coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma. Each week, whole blood donors with COVID-19 antibodies are helping to contribute between 350-500 units of potentially lifesaving convalescent plasma for patients in need.
The Red Cross is not administering diagnostic tests intended to diagnose illness. As such, to protect the health and safety of our staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.
As a thank-you for helping meet the need for blood donations from Nov.15 through Dec. 15, Suburban Propane is offering blood, platelet and plasma donors a chance to win an Outdoor Living Experience, powered by Propane, to enable a lucky winner to enjoy socially distanced celebrations with family and friends this holiday season. The prize includes a propane-powered pizza oven, fire pit, outdoor heater and stipend towards propane.*
Blood donation safety precautions
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
Additional Blood Donation Opportunites in Fairfield County Nov. 16-Dec. 15:
Bridgeport
11/16/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Congregation B'nai Israel, 2710 Park Avenue
11/21/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., St. Andrews Church, 435 Anton Street
11/23/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Avenue
12/11/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Avenue
12/11/2020: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Burroughs Community Center, 2470 Fairfield Avenue
Danbury
11/17/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Danbury Fair Mall, 7 Backus Avenue
11/18/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Danbury Fair Mall, 7 Backus Avenue
11/19/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Danbury Fair Mall, 7 Backus Avenue
Easton
11/16/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Road
Fairfield
11/27/2020: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Church of the Assumption, 545 Stratfield Road
12/2/2020: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Scandinavian Club, 1351 South Pine Creek Road
12/7/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Black Rock Church, 3685 Black Rock Turnpike
12/9/2020: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Scandinavian Club, 1351 South Pine Creek Road
Greenwich
11/18/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryridge Road
11/18/2020: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Greenwich Hospital, 5 Perryridge Road
12/5/2020: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Greenwich Public Safety Complex/New Greenwich Police Department, 11 Bruce Place
New Fairfield
11/20/2020: 1:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m., New Fairfield Company A Volunteer Fire Department, 302 Ball Pond Road
11/20/2020: 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., New Fairfield Company A Volunteer Fire Department, 302 Ball Pond Road
Newtown
11/19/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
11/20/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
12/11/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
12/11/2020: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
12/15/2020: 1 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
12/15/2020: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
12/3/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St.
Norwalk
11/19/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., St. Philip's Church, 25 France Street
12/10/2020: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Philip's Church, 25 France Street
12/10/2020: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Philip's Church, 25 France Street
12/11/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Ave
12/2/2020: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Philip's Church, 25 France Street
12/2/2020: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., St. Philip's Church, 25 France Street
Old Greenwich
12/7/2020: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Rd
Ridgefield
12/3/2020: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ridgefield Park & Recreation Center, 195 Danbury Rd.
Shelton
11/20/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Shelton Community Center, 41 Church Street
11/25/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Shelton Community Center, 41 Church Street
Stamford
11/18/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Road
11/20/2020: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church Stamford, 1101 Bedford St
11/28/2020: 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Road
11/30/2020: 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church Stamford, 1101 Bedford St
12/12/2020: 7:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Union Baptist Church, 805 Newfield Avenue
12/14/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Presbyterian Church Stamford, 1101 Bedford St
12/2/2020: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Temple Beth El Stamford, 350 Roxbury Road
12/8/2020: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Stamford Church of Christ, 1264 High Ridge Road
Stratford
11/17/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Ryders Partners, LLC, 88 Ryders Lane, Suite 208
11/17/2020: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Ryders Partners, LLC, 88 Ryders Lane, Suite 208
Trumbull
12/15/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 White Plains Road
12/3/2020: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 White Plains Road
12/9/2020: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 White Plains Road
12/9/2020: 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 White Plains Road
Westport
12/11/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Christ and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church of Westport, 75 Church Lane
12/3/2020: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., VFW, 465 Riverside Avenue