To better serve the Chicago community, the American Red Cross is pleased to announce the grand opening on Monday, June 15 of a new, state-of-the-art blood donation site. Blood and platelets will be collected at the new Chicago Blood Donation Site, located inside the Chicago Red Cross Rauner Center at 2200 W. Harrison Street in Chicago.

The new donation site will offer a permanent location for donors to give blood and platelets locally and offer additional donation opportunities while providing lifesaving blood products to the community. This is the first stand-alone Red Cross location for the collection of platelets in the Chicagoland area. Platelets play a critical role in the treatment of millions of people fighting cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as those recovering from traumatic injuries.

This grand opening comes as the Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage as hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused earlier this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to Amazon, all those who come to give June 1-30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Restrictions apply. Additional information and details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Together.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to ensure the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

WHAT: Blood Donation Site of Chicago

WHERE: The Red Cross Rauner Center at 2200 W. Harrison Street, Chicago

WHEN: Monday: 11 a.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Wednesday: 11.a.m – 7:15 p.m.
Thursday: CLOSED
Friday: 7 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Saturday: 7 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED

The Red Cross must collect nearly 13,000 blood donations and more than 2,600 platelet donations every day for patients at about 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country, including many hospitals in the Chicagoland area. Blood donors of all types are needed.

Eligible donors with types O, A negative and B negative blood are urged to make a Power Red donation at the new Chicago Blood Donation Center. Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells during a single donation, allowing them to maximize their impact

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. 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.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% 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 redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.