Red Cross declares national blood emergency

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - For only the second time in history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis, with donations hitting a four year low.

"While the nation's blood supply dropped 25% in the month of June, we're very much in line with that," says Meg Rossman of the Red Cross. "We announced the shortage on July 13th, and since that time, we've had thousands of generous blood donors step up to roll up the sleeve. But donations are not keeping pace with hospital demand, and that's escalated to the situation. We're at a point now where the supply of type O positive blood has now fallen below a one day supply, and we're having to limit distribution of blood products to area hospitals here in in our region and across the country."

Rossman says there are several factors. "We certainly see a seasonal dip as we head into the summer months, July and August specifically. Folks are out and about. They're traveling. They're trying to pack it all in before the snow comes again. At the same time, we're seeing an increased demand from hospitals because they're seeing a very active trauma season. They're seeing a lot of folks come through those emergency department doors, surgeries, other medical treatments," says Rossman.

If you want to help, Rossman says you can go to www.redcrossblood.org. call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). or you can download the free Red Cross blood donor app to find a drive nearest you.

Here is a list of upcoming donation opportunities in WNY:

Allegany

Alfred 7/30/2026: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Alfred State College, Alfred State College, Student Leadership Center, Small Event Space, Third Floor, 10 Upper College Drive

Friendship 8/4/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Friendship Fire Company, 6 East Main Street

Cattaraugus

Allegany 7/30/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Fireman’s Community Center, Community Center, 188 W Main St

.8/13/2026: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Fireman’s Community Center, Community Center, 188 W Main St.

Ellicottville8/14/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 6360 Route 242 East

Olean 8/15/2026: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Olean Family YMCA, OLEAN YMCA, 1101 Wayne St.

Randolph7/31/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Randolph Fire Hall, 70 Main Street

Salamanca 7/31/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Our Lady Peace-Holy Cross Church, 274 Broad St

Dunkirk 8/10/2026: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Clarion Hotel Conference Center-Dunkirk, 30 Lake Shore Dr E.

8/15/2026: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Dunkirk First Baptist Church, 876 Central Avenue

Falconer 8/13/2026: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Harley Davidson of Jamestown Inc., 1951 E Main St.

Lakewood 7/31/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Chautauqua Mall, 318 E Fairmount Ave.

8/6/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Chautauqua Mall, 318 E Fairmount Ave.

8/12/2026: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Chautauqua Mall, 318 E Fairmount Ave.

Sherman

7/28/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Stanley Hose Company, 122 Park Street

Silver Creek

8/7/2026: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., First United Church, 35 Park Pl

Westfield

8/10/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Eason Hall, 23 Elm Street

Erie

Akron 7/30/2026: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion L L Tillman Post 900, 9 Eckerson Ave

Buffalo

7/29/2026: 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Mercy Hospital, Mercy Hospital, 565 Abbott Rd

7/29/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., WNY Chapter, 786 Delaware Ave

7/30/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Rich Products Corporation, 1 Robert Rich Way

8/1/2026: 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Amherst Center for Senior Services, 370 John James Audubon Pkwy

8/5/2026: 12 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Kenilworth Fire Dept Co #1, 84 Hawthorne Ave

8/7/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., St Joseph University Parish, 3269 Main St

8/8/2026: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., St Gregory the Great, 200 St Gregory Ct

8/11/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., WNY Chapter, 786 Delaware Ave

East Aurora

8/4/2026: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., East Aurora Moose Lodge 370, 905 Main St.

Hamburg

8/6/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Revive Wesleyan, 4999 McKinley Pkwy.

8/12/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lake Shore Public Library, 4857 Lake Shore Rd

Irving

7/27/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., SNI Cattaraugus Community Building, 12767 NY-438

Lackawanna 7/28/2026: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., VFW Post 898, VFW Post 898, 2909 South Park Ave

Orchard Park 8/14/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Bernadette's Roman Catholic Church, 5930 S Abbott Rd

Tonawanda 8/1/2026: 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Church of the Nativity, 1530 Colvin Blvd

Genesee

Batavia 7/28/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel, 8315 Park Rd

8/6/2026: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., NYS School for the Blind- Knight Hall, 2A Richmond Ave

8/13/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Northgate Free Methodist Church, 350 Bank St.

Pavilion

8/3/2026: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Pavilion Fire Department Recreation Hall, 11302 S Lake Rd

Niagara

Lewiston

8/12/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Lewiston Fire Co. No.1, Lewiston Fire Co. No. 1, 145 N 6th St

Lockport

7/27/2026: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., South Lockport Fire Company Inc, 5666 S Transit Rd

8/11/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., The Dale Association Incorporated, 33 Ontario St.

North Tonawanda

8/5/2026: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Gratwick Fire Hose Co. #6, 110 Ward Rd

Youngstown

7/28/2026: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Youngstown Fire Hall, 625 3rd St.

Wyoming

Attica

8/12/2026: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. John Neumann Parish-St. Vincents Auditorium, 24 Walnut St

Perry

8/14/2026: 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Perry Fireman’s Recreation Hall, 121 Lake St

Warsaw

8/3/2026: 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., Rent-A-Center, 2400 NY-19