COLUMBIA (WACH) -- This week's winter weather not only caused problems for schools, government and businesses, it also put a pinch on blood donation.
The American Red Cross says they missed out on 21 blood drives in addition to their regular donation centers being closed.
The Red Cross says they missed out on more than 800 units of blood and platelets because of the snow and ice.
But this isn't just a local problem. With the same storm blanketing much of the nation in severe winter weather, the blood supplies have dropped making it even more important for those who can donate to make an appointment.
“Although the winter weather has been challenging, the Red Cross is working diligently to meet the needs of patients in our hospitals,” said Delisa English, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross South Carolina Blood Services Region. “We are counting on generous blood donors to make sure that the blood supply is at an adequate level to continue to meet patients’ needs.”
You can set up an appointment by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or online at redcrossblood.org.
Here is a list of upcoming blood drives in the area:
1/ 16 | 1:00-5:00 p.m. | Broadacres Baptist Church | 2350 Taylor St. | Cayce |
1/ 16 | 1:00-6:00 p.m. | Sumter Mall | 1057 Broad St. | Sumter |
1/17 | Noon-5:00 p.m. | Dutch Square Center | 421 Bush River Road | Columbia |
1/ 17 | 2:30-7:00 p.m. | Windsor UMC | 9550 Windsor Lake Blvd. | Columbia |
1/ 18 | 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Bose | 2000 Carolina Pines Dr. | Blythewood |
1/ 18 | 2:00-7:00 p.m. | Corinth Lutheran Church | 638 Corinth St. | Saluda |
1/ 18 | 1:30-6:30 p.m. | Thomson Depot | 136 Railroad St. | Thomson, Ga. |
1/ 19 | 4:00-7:00 p.m. | Light House Baptist Church | 2150 Columbia Hwy. N. | Aiken |
1/ 19 | 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Palmetto Health Baptist | 1501 Sumter St. | Columbia |
1/ 20 | 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Lexington County Sheriff’s Dept. | 521 Gibson Road | Lexington |
1/ 20 | 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Fairfield Central High School | 836 US Hwy 321 Bypass S. | Winnsboro |
1/ 22 | 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. | Mt. Olive Lutheran Church | 1541 Lake Murray Blvd. | Irmo |
1/ 23 | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Tree of Life Congregation | 6719 N. Trenholm Road | Arcadia Lakes |
1/ 24 | 2:00-7:00 p.m. | Lexington UMC | 321 E. Main St. | Lexington |
1/ 25 | 1:30-6:00 p.m. | Delta Air Lines | 100 Delta Dr. | Augusta, Ga. |
1/ 25 | 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. | Augusta State University | 2500 Walton Way | Augusta, Ga. |
1/ 26 | Noon-6:00 p.m. | Spring Valley Rotary | 20 N. Trace Court | Columbia |
1/ 26 | 2:00-7:00 p.m. | Aiken Mall | 2441 Whiskey Road | Aiken |
1/ 27 | 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Lexington Medical Center | 2720 Sunset Blvd. | West Columbia |
1/ 27 | 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Augusta Tech | 3116 Deans Bridge Road | Augusta, Ga. |
1/ 27 | 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Midlands Center | 8301 Farrow Road | Columbia |
1/ 28 | 2:00-7:00 p.m. | Jeep Roger YMCA | 900 Lake Carolina Dr. | Columbia |
1/ 30 | 8:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Shandon UMC | 3407 Devine St. | Columbia |
2/2 | 2:00-7:00 p.m. | St. Stephens Lutheran Church | 119 North Church St. | Lexington |
2/3 | 2:00-7:00 p.m. | Prince of Orange Mall | 2390 Chestnut St. | Orangeburg |
2/4 | 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | 1101 Lincoln St. | Columbia |
Here is a list of blood donation centers in your area:
Columbia Donation Center
2751 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Blood donation hours:
Monday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Thursday: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Platelet donation hours:
Sunday: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Monday: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Thursday: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Friday: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Saturday: 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sumter Donation Center
1155 N Guignard Dr.
Sumter, SC 29150
Blood donation hours:
Monday: noon-6:30 p.m.
Tuesday: noon-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Thursday: noon-6:30 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
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