Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
SALT LAKE CITY (March 19, 2026) — Over three days last week, 21 blood drives hosted at stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across Utah collected 802 units of blood for the American Red Cross, helping support patients in Utah and across the country.
The drives stretched across Utah on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from Logan, Pleasant View, Plain City and Huntsville in the north to Cedar City in the south, with additional locations throughout the Wasatch Front, including Kaysville, North Salt Lake, Kearns, Murray, West Jordan, Sandy, South Jordan, Riverton, Draper, Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Orem, Elk Ridge and Santaquin.
The blood drives are part of a three-decade partnership between the American Red Cross and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church hosted its first American Red Cross blood drive in 1996 and has become the largest single contributor to American Red Cross blood drives. Each year, Latter-day Saints donate about 97,000 units of blood through thousands of drives. Over the past three decades, the Red Cross has collected more than 1 million units through more than 37,000 drives hosted by the Church nationwide.
“This partnership reflects the kind of service that strengthens communities and helps ensure patients have access to the blood they need,” said Heidi Ruster, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region. “We are grateful for the continued support of Latter-day Saint donors across Utah and for the lasting relationship between the Church and the Red Cross.”
A Century-Long Partnership
The partnership between the American Red Cross and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dates back more than a century to joint humanitarian work during the Spanish-American War. Red Cross founder Clara Barton and Relief Society President Emmeline B. Wells worked together to assemble comfort kits for soldiers, an effort that led to the creation of the Salt Lake City chapter of the Red Cross.
Church support for the American Red Cross has provided eight mobile blood donation centers, biomedical equipment and collection equipment for new donor centers. That funding has also supported programs for cancer patients and people living with sickle cell disease, including efforts to recruit donors and increase the availability of compatible blood.
How to Donate Blood or Host a Drive
Blood donation appointments can be made through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, at redcross.org/GiveBlood or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). In March 2026, the Red Cross is providing free A1C testing on successful blood, platelet and plasma donations. Those who come to give March 1-31, 2026, will also receive a $15 Amazon gift card by email. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/March.
The Red Cross of Utah invites businesses, schools, churches and community groups to help meet patient needs by hosting blood drives. The Red Cross provides planning support, recruitment tools, equipment, materials and trained staff. Learn more at redcrossblood.org/host-a-drive.
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.
