[CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO, Aug. 24, 2026] — The American Red Cross urges people to celebrate the power of kindness by making an appointment to give lifesaving blood or platelets. Every donation is critical to helping prevent the next blood shortage.
The Red Cross and Hello Kitty® and Friends are partnering in September to remind donors that comfort and care are always better when shared. Just one blood or platelet donation can help more than one patient enjoy a happier future. As a thank-you, those who come to give Sept. 1-20, 2026, will get an exclusive Red Cross × Hello Kitty plush mascot clip and surprise sticker pack, while supplies last. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HelloKitty.
Thanks to the generosity of thousands of people who rolled up a sleeve this summer, the blood supply continues to recover from critically low levels. As we enter September, the blood supply remains vulnerable — especially as we approach new seasonal challenges such as back-to-school activities that can cause donors to be less available to give, and the ongoing potential for tropical systems in the Atlantic, which can further threaten the blood supply by disrupting blood drives. By making and keeping appointments now, donors can help the Red Cross ensure lifesaving blood products are on hand wherever they are needed, including communities where donations may not be possible due to severe summer weather and natural disasters.
One small act of kindness can travel far. Spark joy and book a time to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Sept.1-20:
MISSOURI
Bollinger
Marble Hill
9/16/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., St. Anthony Glennon Hall, Rural Route 2 box 1122
Patton
9/9/2026: 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Meadow Heights High School, 14571 MO-72
_______________
Butler
Poplar Bluff
9/3/2026: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Black River Coliseum, 301 South Fifth Street
9/4/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Three Rivers College, 2080 Three Rivers Blvd
9/8/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., John J Pershing VA Medical Center – North Wing, 1500 N Westwood Blvd
9/9/2026: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., John J Pershing VA Medical Center – North Wing, 1500 N Westwood Blvd
9/18/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, 3100 Oak Grove Road
_______________
Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau
9/1/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/3/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Road
9/4/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/5/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/6/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/7/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/8/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/9/2026: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Cape Girardeau County Public Health center, 1121 Linden St
9/10/2026: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., SoutheastHEALTH College of Nursing & Health Sciences, 2001 William Street
9/11/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/11/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lynwood Baptist Church, 2935 Lynwood Hills Drive
9/12/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/13/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/14/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/15/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/18/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/19/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
9/20/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
Jackson
9/10/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall 6405, 3305 N High St
9/14/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion Hall, 319 North High Street
_______________
Dunklin
Kennett
9/17/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kennett Board of Public Works, 205 Carey St
_______________
Iron
Viburnum
9/16/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Viburnum High School, 35 MO-49
_______________
New Madrid
Matthews
9/15/2026: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Caring Hands Home Care, 16287 US-61
_______________
Pemiscot
Deering
9/2/2026: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Delta C 7 School, 20 Charger Lane
Hayti
9/17/2026: 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Pemiscot County Career and Technology Center, 1317 W Hwy 84
Wardell
9/9/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Pemiscot County High School, 102 School Street
_______________
Perry
Perryville
9/8/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Perry Park Center, 800 City Park Drive
9/14/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Mercy Hospital – Perry, 434 North West Street
_______________
Stoddard
Dexter
9/2/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Dexter Elks Lodge #2439, 325 North Two Mile Road
9/16/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Mercy Hospital Stoddard, 1200 N 1 Mile Rd
ILLINOIS
Jackson
Campbell Hill
9/17/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Campbell Hill Community Center, 213 South Dean
Carbondale
9/2/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 7168 Old Highway 13
9/3/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Southern Illinois University Carbondale – Morris Library, 605 Agriculture Drive
9/4/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Carbondale Eagles Lodge, 1206 W. Linden
9/8/2026: 7 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Illinois Department of Transportation, 2801 West Murphysboro Road
Murphysboro
9/4/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 120 Muddy Monster Rd
9/9/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion Post 127, 1700 Gartside
9/17/2026: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Jackson County Health Department, 415 Health Department Road
_______________
Union
Anna
9/18/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Main Street Center, 400 South Main
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card, or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.