Upcoming Red Cross Blood Drives In Odenton-Severn Area

ODENTON-SEVERN, MD — The U.S. faces a critical blood supply shortage, and the Red Cross urges people of all blood types to donate.

People who donate blood, platelets or plasma during October will receive an offer for a free Zaxby's signature sandwich. Donors who don't live near a Zaxby's can receive a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.

The Red Cross recently launched an initiative to increase the number of Black blood donors to help patients with sickle cell anemia. More than 100,000 U.S. residents have sickle cell disease, and the majority are Black. Patients often require regular blood transfusions, but may develop an immune response from blood that isn't closely matched to their own, according to the Red Cross.

Here are the Red Cross blood drives coming up in the Odenton-Severn area in the next few weeks. You can search for additional Red Cross blood drives from a wider area here.

• 10/8/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., West County Area Library, 1325 Annapolis rd (Odenton)
• 10/9/2021: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Severn Covenant Church, 20 Gambrills Road (Severn)
• 10/15/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Church at Severn Run, 8187 Telegraph Rd (Severn)

Editor's note: This list was automatically generated using data compiled by the American Red Cross. The local blood drives included in the list are limited to those at the time the Red Cross data was pulled. Please visit RedCrossBlood.org for the most current listing of drives. Please report any errors or other feedback to [email protected]. Know of another blood drive coming up in your area? You can add it to the Patch calendar using this form.

In most states, donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health; some states allow 16-year-olds to donate with parental consent. Donors 18 years old and younger need to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. Appointments can be made via the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, online or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.