Blood Donors Needed During Sickle Cell Awareness Month
September 10, 2020 (St. Paul, MN)—Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) has an urgent need for blood and platelet donations. With hurricanes affecting blood donations in the southern United States and COVID-19 impacting up to 50% of blood drives, blood donors are urgently needed to help maintain a stable supply of blood for local hospital patients.
Plus, September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is the most common blood disease in the U.S. Patients sometimes need frequent blood transfusions and can suffer severe side effects from receiving blood from multiple donors. MBC is looking for eligible donors to enroll in the Sickle Cell Donor Program to match patients with specially typed donors. Learn more at MBC.ORG/sicklecell.
The need for blood is constant, but the supply is not. To help in the fight against COVID-19, the FDA has updated some eligibility guidelines—some donors who were previously deferred might now be eligible to give. Check eligibility and schedule an appointment at MBC.ORG or call 1-888-GIVE-BLD (888-448-3253).
Blood donation is safe and essential, and MBC has a COVID-19 self-screening policy in addition to general eligibility guidelines. In general, you may be eligible to donate if you are:
- In good health
- 17 years or older— or 16 with written parental consent (PDF available on MBC.ORG)
- At least 110 pounds
- Free of antibiotics for 24 hours, unless taken for preventative reasons
- Symptom-free for at least 72 hours following a cold or flu
MBC also continues to collect COVID-19 convalescent plasma at all metro donor centers. While there is no proven treatment, it is possible that convalescent plasma, which has antibodies against the virus, could help patients with serious or life-threatening infections. Learn more at (MBC.ORG/CPdonor).
Visit MBC.ORG to find your nearest drive or donor center, or to make an appointment at one of the public blood drives below.
Date | Sponsor | Location | City | Time |
9/14 | Life Time Athletic—Eagan | 1565 Thomas Center Dr | Eagan | 2:00-7:30pm |
9/14 | Knights of Columbus | 11300 Frankfort Pkwy NE | Saint Michael | 2:00-8:00pm |
9/15 | Key Surgical | 8101 Wallace Rd | Eden Prairie | 11:00am-4:00pm |
9/17 | OMNI Brewing Company | 9462 Deerwood Lane North | Maple Grove | 3:00-7:30pm |
9/18 | Highland Park Community Blood Drive | 1978 Ford Parkway | St Paul | 11:am-4:00pm |
9/19 | St Barnabus Lutheran Church | 15600 Old Rockford Rd | Plymouth | 8:00am-1:00pm |
9/19 | Fulton Farmers Market | 4901 Chowen Ave S | Minneapolis | 8:30am-1:30pm |
9/21 | St Alphonsus Catholic Church | 7025 Halifax Ave N | Brooklyn Center | 1:30-6:00pm |
9/21 | Indeed Brewing | 711 15 Ave NE | Minneapolis | 12:00-5:00pm |
9/22 | Maple Grove Community Center | 12951 Weaver Lake Rd | Maple Grove | 3:00-7:00pm |
9/22 | Waterford Office Park | 605 Hwy 169 N | Plymouth | 10:00am-3:00pm |
9/22 | Metropolitan Airports Commission | 6040 28th Ave S | Minneapolis | 8:00am-1:00pm |
9/23 | Minnetonka United Methodist Church | 17611 Lake St Extension | Minnetonka | 3:00-7:00pm |
9/24 | Woodbury Community | 1925 Woodwinds Dr | Woodbury | 7:00am-2:00pm |
9/24 | Citizens Independent Bank | 5000 36th St | St Louis Park | 9:00am-2:00pm |
9/26 | Pull for Papa | 22776 MN-15 | Saint Cloud | 9:00am-2:30pm |
9/28 | Annunciation Catholic Church | 509 W 54th St | Minneapolis | 12:00-7:00pm |
9/29 | Shakopee Police Dept | 475 Gorman St | Shakopee | 11:00am-6:00pm |
9/30 | North Star Resource Group | 2701 University Ave SE | Minneapolis | 7:30am-12:30pm |
About Memorial Blood Centers
Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) has been saving lives since 1948 as an independent nonprofit. MBC relies on the local community to donate blood to help ensure a safe and stable blood supply is available to area hospitals and other partners throughout the country. With operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, MBC is a division of New York Blood Centers Enterprises (NYBCe), serving communities across the country. For more information, call 1-888-GIVE-BLD (1-888-448-3253) or visit MBC.ORG. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.