American Red Cross urges for blood donations as winter shortage looms

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The American Red Cross is urging people to make an appointment to give blood or platelets as they say they’re teetering on a winter blood shortage.

The organization says donors with types O, A negative, and B negative blood are especially needed.

If you are interested in donating blood, you can visit the Red Cross website.

To urge individuals to start the year with a blood donation, the Red Cross and National Football League are partnering for National Blood Donor Month. Those who give January 1st – 25th 2026, will be automatically entered for a chance to win a Super Bowl LX giveaway. The winner and guest will get to enjoy Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California, access to day-of in-stadium pregame activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb 6-9th), and a $1,000 gift card for expenses.

WWAY will be hosting a blood drive on January 30th from 10 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon.

Below is a list of upcoming blood donation opportunities in the Cape Fear:

Columbus:

• Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina, Lake Waccamaw
  • 1/26/26 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Columbus County Shrine Club, Whiteville
  • 1/9/26 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Brunswick:

• Palmetto Creek Club House, Bolivia
  • 1/6/26 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Brunswick County Democratic Party Headquarters, Bolivia
  • 1/9/26 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort, Calabash
  • 1/6/26 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Calabash Elks Lodge, Calabash
  • 1/19/26 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• American Legion Calabash
  • 1/27/26 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• First Baptist Church of Leland
  • 1/12/26 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Leland Cultural Arts Center
  • 1/27/26 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Ocean View Methodist Church, Oak Island
  • 1/8/26 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Oak Island Elks Lodge
  • 1/26/26 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Body Edge Fitness Solutions, Ocean Isle Beach
  • 1/23/26 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Ocean Isle Beach Town Hall
  • 1/23/26 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Starbuck #62905, Shallotte
  • 1/14/26 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Camp United Methodist Church
  • 1/15/26 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Southport Fire Department
  • 1/15/26 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pender:

• Novant Health Pender Medical Center, Burgaw
  • 1/13/26 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

New Hanover:

• River Bluffs Community Gym, Castle Hayne
  • 1/7/26 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Port City Community Church, Wilmington
  • 1/5/26 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• American Red Cross
  • 1/8/26 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Lowe’s Home Improvement Porters Neck
  • 1/9/26 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Community Center, Wilmington
  • 1/12/26 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Harbor United Methodist Church
  • 1/13/26 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Independence Mall
  • 1/15/26 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Porter’s Neck Country Club
  • 1/19/26 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Winter Park Elementary School
  • 1/20/26 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Country Club of Landfall
  • 1/27/26 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Cape Fear Community College
  • 1/29/26 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wilmington NC Blood Donation Center
  • 1/5/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/6/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/7/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/9/26 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/10/26 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/11/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/12/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/13/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/14/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/16/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/17/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/18/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/19/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/20/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/21/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/23/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/24/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/25/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/26/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/27/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/28/26 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • 1/30/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • 1/31/26 12 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.