DETROIT (Jan. 5, 2026) – The American Red Cross is teetering on a blood shortage this winter, which could lead to a disruption in lifesaving care. Donors are urged to make an appointment now. 

The Red Cross blood supply is under pressure after a busy holiday season, coupled with winter weather, made it even tougher to ensure hospitals have the blood products needed for critical care. Without immediate action, doctors may have to make difficult decisions about which patients receive blood transfusions and who will need to wait. Donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are especially needed.

Those who give now through Jan. 25 will be automatically entered to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in February in Santa Clara, California. This marks the seventh year the Red Cross and National Football League are partnering for National Blood Donor Month in January and urge people to kick off 2026 with a blood donation.

The winner of the Super Bowl LX tickets and their guest will enjoy access to pre-game activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare to California, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 6 – 9), plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses. For more details visit RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.

A Michigan blood donor won the tickets to the 2022 Super Bowl.

Donors can give blood at Red Cross blood drives or Red Cross blood donation centers in Michigan for a chance to win the Super Bowl tickets. Here are three ways to make an appointment:       

• Use the Red Cross Blood Donor app        
• Visit RedCrossBlood.org        
• Call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767)
  
  

An appointment for a whole blood donation lasts about one hour, though the actual donation takes eight to 10 minutes. Donors may donate every 56 days – up six times a year. An appointment for a platelet donation takes about two hours. Platelet donors can give every seven days – up to 24 times a year.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities      

• Jan. 6 and Jan. 8 in partnership with Gardner White furniture stores in southeast Michigan, Saginaw and new locations in Cadillac and Mt. Pleasant. Make an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org and use code gardnerwhite.        
• Jan. 12 – Feb. 26 Big Hearts Blood Battle. University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Penn State and Wisconsin compete to collect the most blood donations. Make an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org and use code GoBlue.     
• Jan. 15 at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center. Make an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org.    
• Visit RedCrossBlood.org and search by your zip code for a Red Cross blood donation center or blood drive in your area. 
   

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MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz / david.olejarz@redcross.org / 313-303-0606

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 follow us on social media.