National blood crisis NOW: Immediate need for blood and platelet donations
Red Cross issues rare crisis call for donors as summer blood shortage intensifies
Patient care threatened as critical blood type levels continue to fall
BILOXI, Miss. (July 27, 2026) — For only the second time in history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis — and patients may already be feeling the impact. Donors are asked to act immediately to help save lives.
Blood donations have fallen to a four-year summer low, worsening this season’s emergency blood shortage. All blood types are needed, but the situation is especially dire for type O blood as the Red Cross is now limiting distributions of these blood products to hospitals. The supply of type O positive blood has now dropped below a one-day supply.
Help end this crisis and stabilize the blood supply. Book an appointment to give blood now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all who come to give by July 31 will receive a Fandango Movie Ticketby email (up to $15 ticket price and fees).See RedCrossBlood.org/July.
Additionally, those who come to give Aug. 1-31, 2026, will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card by email. For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/August.
Patients can’t wait
Despite thousands of people who have stepped up to help end the emergency blood shortage since it was declared earlier this month, donations are still not keeping pace with hospital demand, and the situation has escalated. Extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses continue to contribute to lower donor turnout this summer.
“This summer has brought a number of unique challenges that have placed additional strain on our blood supply, creating growing concerns for hospitals and the patients who rely on lifesaving transfusions,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of donor services for the Red Cross. “If just three more donors gave at each blood drive this summer, we could help the blood supply rebound and ensure hospitals have the blood products they need throughout the remainder of the season.”
Upcoming blood donation opportunities July 27-Aug. 15:
| Mississippi |
| Forrest County |
| Hattiesburg |
| 7/27/2026: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lil Teknon Learning Center, 125 W 8th St |
| 7/30/2026: 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Merit Health Wesley, 210 West Hospital Drive |
| George County |
| Lucedale |
| 8/7/2026: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Wellness Center, 838 Mill St A |
| Hancock County |
| Bay Saint Louis |
| 8/18/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Media For Red Cross- Hancock County, Central Bible Church,2005 Longfellow Dr. |
| Harrison County |
| Biloxi |
| 7/27/2026: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., St. Martin Public Library, 15004 Lemoyne Blvd. |
| 7/28/2026: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Mary Catholic Church, 8343 Woolmarket Road |
| 8/1/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Edgewater Mall, 2600 Beach Blvd |
| 8/14/2026: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Deaconess Hospice of Biloxi, 1641 Popp’s Ferry Rd |
| 8/24/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Edgewater Mall, 2600 Beach Blvd |
| 8/25/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Edgewater Mall, 2600 Beach Blvd |
| 8/26/2026: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Memorial Hospital – Biloxi, 150 Reynoir Street |
| Diberville |
| 7/24/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 10446 LeMoyne Blvd. |
| 8/21/2026: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Mandal GMC, 11290 Mandal Parkway |
| Gulfport |
| 7/30/2026: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., American Red Cross – South Mississippi Chapter, 612 E Pass Road |
| 7/31/2026: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Turan Foley Motors, Inc, 11123 US 49 |
| 8/5/2026: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., American Red Cross – South Mississippi Chapter, 612 E Pass Road |
| 8/6/2026: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., St John the Evangelist Catholic Church Gulfport, 2414 17th Street |
| 8/7/2026: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross – South Mississippi Chapter, 612 E Pass Road |
| 8/10/2026: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 1909 15th Street |
| 8/11/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Ann Catholic Church, 23529 MS-53 |
| 8/12/2026: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., American Red Cross – South Mississippi Chapter, 612 E Pass Road |
| 8/13/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Island View Casino, 3300 W. Beach Blvd. |
| 8/17/2026: 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Memorial Hospital Medical Office Building, 4500 13th Street |
| 8/17/2026: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Gulf Coast Event Center, 9475 US 49 |
| 8/17/2026: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Memorial Hospital Medical Office Building, 4500 13th Street |
| 8/19/2026: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., American Red Cross – South Mississippi Chapter, 612 E Pass Road |
| 8/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Dr. Shannon Wellness & Weight Loss, 15429 O’Neal Rd |
| 8/28/2026: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., American Red Cross – South Mississippi Chapter, 612 E Pass Road |
| Long Beach |
| 8/11/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Methodist of Long Beach, 208 Pine St |
| 8/27/2026: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., University of Southern Mississippi -West Academic Building, 423 E 2nd St |
| Pass Christian |
| 8/20/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Randolph Center, 315 Clark Ave |
| Jackson County |
| Ocean Springs |
| 8/6/2026: 1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m., Marble Slab American Cookie Company Ocean Springs,1543 Bienville Blvd |
| 8/14/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Seymour Law Firm, LLC, 13524 Solomon Rd |
| 8/27/2026: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Katrina Memorial-City of Ocean Springs-Civic Center,3730 Bienville Blvd. |
| Pascagoula |
| 7/29/2026: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, 720 Krebs Ave |
| 8/20/2026: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Pascagoula Senior Center, 1912 Live Oak Ave. |
| 8/22/2026: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., St. Peter the Apostle Church, 1715 Telephone Rd |
| Stone County |
| Wiggins |
| 7/30/2026: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Big Level Community Center, 1345 City Bridge Road |
