Stanford Blood Center in urgent need of blood donations

The Stanford Blood Center is facing an urgent need for blood donations right now and is calling on the community for help.

“August is often a challenging time for blood collection with many regular donors traveling and families focused on back-to-school preparations,” a statement from the blood center said. “Unfortunately, this August is no exception to the rule.”

The center welcomes people of all blood types to donate, but is especially in need of type O. Donors can make an appointment at one of Stanford Blood Center’s donation locations in Campbell, Menlo Park and Mountain View, which are all open seven days a week.

“The need for blood products is so high right now that, even with our incredibly dedicated donors, we’re having difficulty keeping up with demand,” Donor Recruitment Manager Karen Hendryk said in the statement. “There is a national shortage right now that’s complicating things further because local hospitals we don’t normally supply are reaching out asking for support as well. At times like these, we need the broader community to come out to donate to ensure we have a ready supply of blood products for anyone who needs it.”

In addition to Stanford Blood Center’s permanent locations, there are upcoming mobile blood drives open to the public scheduled in Pleasanton, San Jose, Oakland, Gilroy, Cupertino, San Ramon, Castro Valley, Milpitas and other locations. A full list of locations, dates and times can be found on the center’s website.

Appointments can be scheduled online, via the Stanford Blood Center’s mobile app, by calling 888-723-7831 or by texting to 999-777.

Donating in August also comes with promotions, including official San Francisco Giants shirts, VIP tickets for the San Jose Earthquakes, Target e-gift cards and more. More information about promotions can be found at stanfordbloodcenter.org.

The center requests that donors be in good health with no cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms. It’s also important to eat well before donating and drink lots of fluids. Donors should bring a photo ID to their appointment.