OAKLAND (Calif.) — As summer officially begins and people gather for holiday celebrations, the American Red Cross reminds communities that patients are counting now on the generosity of blood and platelet donors, especially around the Fourth of July.

The Red Cross sees about a 21% decline in blood donations during holiday weeks, including Independence Day. When blood and platelets donations drop, so does the blood supply, making it extremely challenging to ensure blood is available when hospitals need it.

By scheduling and keeping appointments in July, donors can help provide for those in immediate need of lifesaving care. To schedule an appointment to donate, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a thank-you for helping, all those who come to give June 30-July 10 will receive an exclusive Red Cross recycled cotton tote bag, while supplies last.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 1-15:

Alameda

Alameda

• 7/1/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Alameda Hospital, 2070 Clinton Avenue
• 7/12/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Alameda City Library, 1550 Oak Street

Hayward

• 7/1/2022: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., New Hope Christian Fellowship, 22110 Montgomery Street
• 7/1/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Chabot College, 25555 Hesperian Boulevard

Livermore

• 7/14/2022: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, 4743 East Avenue

Newark

• 7/1/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/2/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/3/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/4/2022: 8 a.m. – 1:45 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/5/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/6/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/7/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/8/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/9/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/10/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/11/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/12/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/13/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/14/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard
• 7/15/2022: 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center, 39227 Cedar Boulevard

Oakland

• 7/1/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/2/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/3/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/4/2022: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/5/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/6/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/7/2022: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/8/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/9/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/10/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/11/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/12/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/13/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/14/2022: 10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue
• 7/15/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Oakland Blood Donation Center, 6230 Claremont Avenue

Pleasanton

• 7/1/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/2/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/3/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/4/2022: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/5/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/6/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/8/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/9/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/10/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/11/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/12/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/13/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/15/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., Pleasanton Blood Donation Center, 5880 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 34
• 7/15/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pleasanton (Vineyard Ave.), 3574 Vineyard Avenue

San Leandro

• 7/2/2022: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Creekside Community Church, 951 MacArthur
• 7/5/2022: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Gate 510, 1933 Davis Street
• 7/6/2022: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Gate 510, 1933 Davis Street

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Contra Costa

Antioch

• 7/6/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Heritage Baptist Church, 5200 Heidorn Ranch Road

Brentwood

• 7/6/2022: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic, 500 Fairview Avenue
• 7/9/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Resurrection (Ministries) Lutheran Church, 1275 Fairview Avenue
• 7/13/2022: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Brentwood, 2350 Jeffery Way

Pleasant Hill

• 7/1/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/2/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/3/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/4/2022: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/5/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/6/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/7/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/8/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/9/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/10/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/11/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/12/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/13/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 6:45 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/14/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane
• 7/15/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:15 p.m., Contra Costa Blood Donation Center, 140 Gregory Lane

San Francisco

San Francisco

• 7/1/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/2/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/3/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/4/2022: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/5/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/6/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/7/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., The Fairmont San Francisco, 950 Mason Street
• 7/8/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/8/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Univ of San Francisco – McLaren Building, 2130 Fulton Street
• 7/9/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/10/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/11/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/12/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/13/2022: 11:45 a.m. – 6:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street
• 7/15/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Francisco Blood Donation Center, 1663 Market Street

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San Mateo

Millbrae

• 7/12/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Highway

South San Francisco

• 7/5/2022: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Municipal Services Building, 33 Arroyo Drive

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Santa Clara

Gilroy

• 7/14/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Gilroy, 7999 Miller Avenue

Los Altos

• 7/8/2022: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Los Altos (Jordan Ave.), 190 Jordan Avenue

Los Gatos

• 7/5/2022: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., St Mary’s Church, 219 Bean Avenue

Morgan Hill

• 7/12/2022: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Morgan Hill, 1790 E. Dunne Avenue

Mountain View

• 7/9/2022: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Avenue

San Jose

• 7/1/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/2/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/3/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/4/2022: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/5/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/6/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/7/2022: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/8/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/9/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/10/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/11/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/12/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/13/2022: 12:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/14/2022: 10:45 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street
• 7/15/2022: 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m., San Jose Blood Donation Center, 2731 North First Street

Saratoga

• 7/1/2022: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Saratoga Federated Church, 20390 Park Place
   

Health insights for donors 

At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.

Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org.

Blood drive safety 

The Red Cross follows a high standard of safety and infection control. The Red Cross will continue to socially distance wherever possible at blood drives, donation centers and facilities. While donors are no longer required to wear a face mask, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason. The Red Cross will also adhere to more stringent face mask requirements per state and/or local guidance, or at the request of blood drive sponsors. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at a 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.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.