Donate to the American Red Cross this month in Columbus and get a prize. Here’s how

Mark Rice
·6 min read

If you want to receive a gift card or a beach towel — and a chance for a grand prize — for doing a good deed that could save somebody’s life, then the American Red Cross has a deal for you.

Anyone who tries to donate their blood during these dates will receive the following prizes:

  • May 1-19, a $10 gift card.

  • May 20-31, a Red Cross beach towel, while supplies last.

  • May 1-31, entered in a drawing to win a trip for two to this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Seattle. The prize includes two tickets to the game, roundtrip airfare, four nights in a hotel and a $750 gift card.

The promotion comes during National Trauma Awareness Month, when the Red Cross emphasizes the need to keep hospitals prepared for emergencies and other situations requiring blood transfusion.

Type O negative blood especially is needed because it’s the universal blood type, meaning it can be used in emergencies for any patient when there isn’t time to determine the blood type.

Type O positive blood is most often used in transfusions because it can be given to Rh-positive patients of any blood type. Rh factor is an inherited protein found on the surface of red blood cells.

But the Red Cross welcomes donors of any and all blood types.

“Medical traumas can quickly deplete hospital blood banks,” the Red Cross said in a news release. “Once patients are stabilized and their blood type is determined, they will receive a matching blood type, so it’s important donors of all types give now and help save lives.”

Piedmont Columbus Regional laboratory director Cindy McGarr told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email that, although there is national shortage of blood, the blood supplies at Piedmont’s hospitals in Columbus are adequate.

“That is due to staff ordering appropriately and being good stewards of the supply received from the American Red Cross,” McGarr said. “Additionally, we team up with the Red Cross to host quarterly blood drives on-site at Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown in the Conference Center. Our next drive is on Wednesday, May 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.”

The L-E didn’t reach an official with the other Columbus hospital. St. Francis-Emory Healthcare, before publication.

The American Red Cross doesn’t have a blood shortage, Jerrica Williams, the organization’s regional communications manager in Georgia, told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email.

“The Red Cross maintains its blood supply by asking donors to take action by booking appointments to give blood or platelets to keep hospitals prepared for all transfusion needs, including emergencies year-round,” Williams said. “With May being Trauma Awareness Month, it is vital for donors to make and keep appointments during this month to keep hospital shelves fully stocked to help all patients throughout the spring.”

To find a blood donation opportunity in your area and make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Individuals age 17 and older in most states (age 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 teens must meet certain height and weight requirements to donate.

Columbus area blood donation opportunities in May

Hamilton

5/12/2023: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., Park Elementary School, 13185 Highway 27

Waverly Hall

5/23/2023: 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Waverly Hall United Methodist Church, 7580 GA 208

Muscogee County

5/4/2023: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/5/2023: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/6/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/7/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/8/2023: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/9/2023: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic, 6910 River Road

5/11/2023: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/11/2023: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Columbus, 1117 Veterans Parkway

5/12/2023: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/13/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/14/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/15/2023: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/17/2023: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown, 710 Center Street

5/17/2023: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Road

5/18/2023: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Valley Healthcare Systems Inc., 1600 Fort Benning Road

5/18/2023: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/18/2023: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., John P. Thayer YMCA, 24 14th Street

5/19/2023: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/20/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/21/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/22/2023: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/23/2023: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Cascade Hills Church, 727 54th Street

5/24/2023: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Luke United Methodist Church, 1022 2nd Avenue

5/25/2023: 12:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/26/2023: 8:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/26/2023: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Grace Presbyterian Church, 7211 Britton Drive

5/27/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/28/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/29/2023: 7:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m., Columbus Blood Donation Center, 7490 Veterans Prkwy

5/31/2023: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., Greater Peace Baptist Church, 2821 8th Street

Midland

5/15/2023: 2:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Solid Rock Church, 6959 Warm Springs Road

Cuthbert

5/25/2023: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 567 College Street

Americus

5/16/2023: 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Phoebe Sumter Medical Center, 126 Hwy 280 West

Andersonville

5/24/2023: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Imerys, 1949 GA HWY 49 S

LaGrange

5/16/2023: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 120 Broad Street

5/19/2023: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., West Georgia Technical College, One College Circle

5/20/2023: 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Grace Baptist Church, 3731 West Point Road

5/27/2023: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., LaGrange Academy, 1501 Vernon Road