The community is invited to show their support for patients in need this winter by donating blood products during the New Year, New Life Blood Drive on Friday, January 2, 2026, at Eastland Mall. Your lifesaving gift can help ensure premature babies, cancer patients, those living with sickle cell disease and more have access to a safe and stable blood supply.

Twins Arthur and Tarrant McDaniel were born prematurely on January 23, 2020. The McDaniel twins spent more than 80 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, where they received lifesaving blood transfusions. Tarrant was also eventually transferred to Riley Children’s Hospital, where he underwent open heart surgery at three months old to repair a rare heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot.

“I want to say thank you to the blood donors who saved my twins’ lives,” said mother Nicole McDaniel. “Arthur and Tarrant are such strong and caring little boys. You would never know now that they spent so much time in the hospital when they were born.”

The winter months can be especially difficult to collect enough blood to meet patient needs. Holiday travel, severe winter weather and seasonal illness could force donors to cancel or reschedule blood donation appointments, which could impact the blood supply.

New Year, New Life Blood Drive

Friday, January 2, 2026

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Eastland Mall

800 N. Green River Road

Evansville, IN 47715

To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code donorama or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Those who come to give Dec. 19, 2025-Jan. 4, 2026, will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while supplies last.

The Red Cross and the NFL are partnering for the seventh year and invite football fans and blood donors to join our lifesaving team and score big! All who come to give Jan. 1-25, 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in California’s San Francisco Bay Area. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl for details.

How to donate blood

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.

Thank you to Townsquare Media for their continued partnership and support of the New Year, New Life Blood Drive.

About the American Red Cross Indiana Region:
The American Red Cross of Indiana Region serves 6.9 million people in 104 counties in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its chapters: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at Redcross.org/Indiana or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @indianaredcross.