[CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO, Oct. 7, 2026] — In October, the American Red Cross asks people to book a time to give blood or platelets to help keep the blood supply as strong as possible this fall. The seasons may change, but the need for blood is constant. Donors of all blood types are being called on to roll up a sleeve and give hope to hospital patients who rely on transfusions.
While October can be a shoulder season between severe summer and winter weather, it is often unpredictable. When the blood supply is stable, blood products can be moved wherever and whenever they are needed — even in the face of natural disasters. A single appointment could help provide hope and healing for patients in your community and across the country.
Don’t wait. Make an appointment today and keep it on the calendar. Visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App to schedule a donation appointment. Those who come to give Sept. 21-Oct. 18, 2026, will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. See RedCrossBlood.org/Fall for details.
All who come to give Oct. 19-Nov. 22, 2026, will get up to $20 in Gift Cards ─ that’s a $10 Amazon Gift Card by email and 500 bonus points, which can be redeemed for a $10 e-gift card through Blood Donor Rewards! Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Maze for details.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities Oct. 7-31:
MISSOURI
Butler
Poplar Bluff
10/13/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 500 North Main Street
10/20/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Poplar Bluff Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 2509 Roxie Road
_______________
Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau
10/9/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/10/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/11/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/12/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/13/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/15/2026: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 521 Caruthers
10/16/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/17/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/18/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/19/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Mercy Hospital Southeast, 1701 Lacey Street
10/19/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/20/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/22/2026: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Saint Francis Medical Center, 211 St Francis Drive
10/22/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saint Francis Medical Center, 211 St Francis Drive
10/23/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/24/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/25/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/26/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/26/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., La Croix Church, 3102 Lexington
10/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/28/2026: 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Central High School, 1000 South Silver Springs Road
10/30/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
10/31/2026: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Cape Girardeau Blood Donation Center, 20 South Mt Auburn Road
Jackson
10/15/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Jackson High School, 315 S Missouri St
10/28/2026: 2:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Church of Christ, 310 North Shawnee
______________
Festus
10/8/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., True Connection Church, 2206 US-61
10/19/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Jefferson County Family YMCA, 1303 YMCA Drive
10/19/2026: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Jefferson County Family YMCA, 1303 YMCA Drive
10/29/2026: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Festus Public Library, 406 West Main Street
______________
Madison
Fredericktown
10/27/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fredericktown High School, 805 East Highway 72
_______________
New Madrid
New Madrid
10/28/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., New Madrid Technical Skills Center, 310 Highway 61
Portageville
10/23/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Portageville Middle School, 904 King Street
_______________
Pemiscot
Cooter
10/21/2026: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Cooter High School, 1867 State Highway E
_______________
Perry
Perryville
10/19/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Heartland Baptist Church, 829 West St Joseph Street
10/22/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Perryville Primary School, 326 College
_______________
Reynolds
Ellington
10/28/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Southern Reynolds County High School, One School Street
_______________
Ripley
Doniphan
10/20/2026: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Doniphan High School, 5 Ball Park Road
_______________
Scott
Benton
10/30/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Thomas W. Kelly High School, 4035 State Highway 77
Sikeston
10/12/2026: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., YMCA, 511 Taylor
10/19/2026: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Missouri Delta Medical Center, 1008 N Main St
10/26/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Shady Acres Church of Christ – Sikeston, 1440 Ables Road
_______________
Sainte Genevieve
Sainte Genevieve
10/13/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Ste Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, 800 Ste Genevieve Dr
_______________
Saint Francois
Desloge
10/20/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Desloge City Hall, 300 N. Lincoln
Farmington
10/19/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., VFW Hall, 814 East Karsch Blvd
10/19/2026: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., VFW Hall, 814 East Karsch Blvd
10/20/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Parkland Chapel, 1260 Karsch Blvd
Park Hills
10/14/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., West County High School, 768 Hwy M
_______________
Stoddard
Bernie
10/21/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Bernie Community Center, 503 South Walnut
Dexter
10/9/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Dexter High School, 1101 West Grant
10/28/2026: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Saint Francis Health Center- Dexter, 1212 Saint Francis Drive
_______________
Wayne
Piedmont
10/8/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Clearwater High School, 200 Henry White Boulevard
ILLINOIS
Jackson
Carbondale
10/13/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Southern Illinois University Homecoming Student Center, Southern Illinois University, Student Center, 1255 Lincoln Drive
10/16/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., SIH System Office, University Mall, 1239 East Main
10/16/2026: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, 105 N. Parrish Ln.
10/22/2026: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., SIU Credit Union, 395 Giant City Road
Elkville
10/23/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Elverado HS-Elkville, 514 South 6th Street
Murphysboro
10/20/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Egyptian Electric, 1732 Finney Rd
10/22/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., St Joseph Memorial Hospital, 2 South Hospital Drive
10/26/2026: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Jackson County Ambulance Service, 10169 Old Hwy 13
10/29/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Murphysboro High School, 50 Blackwood Drive
_______________
Union
Anna
10/8/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., VFW Post 3455, 70 VFW Lane
10/27/2026: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, 608 South Main Street
Cobden
10/7/2026: 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Cobden High School, 413 North Appleknocker Drive
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.