MONROE — The American Red Cross needs people of all races and ethnicities to give blood to help ensure a blood supply as diverse as the patients who depend on it.

Make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. Blood drives are also essential in helping ensure blood is available for patients this winter. To learn more and sign up to host a blood drive this fall or winter, visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive. 

The Red Cross is testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms. Red Cross antibody tests will be helpful to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may qualify to be convalescent plasma donors. Donors can expect to receive the results of their antibody test within 7 to 10 days through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or the donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. 

Local blood donation opportunities include:

Green County

Juda: 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 23 Juda High School, N2385 Spring St.

Monroe: 11:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28, United Methodist Church, 2227 4th St.

Lafayette County

Belmont: 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21, Belmont Inn and Suites, 103 West Moundview Ave.