# How should I donate blood? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 1, 2010, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463 "2010-06-01T04:20:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/21 "2010-06-01T17:22:51Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > The main reasons I don’t give to the Red Cross are: their history of mismanagement of donations, their inadequate response to disasters, and reports from many former military personnel about their uselessness in times of need. I don’t think I want to be a lot more specific as these are mainly anecdotal, but I would suggest that those of you who think they are a good charity to ask anyone you know who has served in the armed forces or lived through a disaster how much help they got from the Red Cross. OK, so in lieu of Red Cross, what organization can I give my blood and money to that does a better job of disaster relief and managing donations? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/22 "2010-06-01T17:44:59Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > I specifically donate to the Indiana Blood Center so I know my donation stays local. Me too. The blood drives we have at work are put on by the Community Blood Center in Kansas City (although I think the crew that does our blood drives is based out of Topeka) so I know it stays local. They have a website where you can search for blood drives in the area, and I also see their drives listed in the newspaper quite often. They make it pretty easy for you to find one. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/23 "2010-06-01T18:12:12Z")
Just do a search on [this site](https://www.americasblood.org/go.cfm?do=NBDR.SubmitSearch) to find a local blood bank. My [local blood bank](http://www.bbr.org/index.htm) is listed on it. Just gave my 3rd gallon (whole) to them. The blood center is just a couple of miles from our house, so I usually pop in after work. If there is a drive somewhere along my route home within a couple of days of my being eligible to donate again, then I’ll swing by the RV and donate that way. We have drives at work 3 or 4 times a year, but I’ve only donated once or twice here since I’m usually in between donations when they schedule them. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/24 "2010-06-01T18:18:49Z")
From a time perspective, I find it more convenient to go to the donation center (which happens to be near my house) than go to the blood drives. Every blood drive I have ever been to has inevitably been backed up and resulted in a lot of waiting even if I had an “appointment”. On the other hand, at the donation center I can stop in on a day off and be in and out without a lot of sitting around. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/25 "2010-06-01T18:25:46Z")
I haven’t gotten into a routine, but I get postcards from one specific donation site where I’ve gone before. Also, they called me last week. I don’t know if they need A positive or if that’s normal. > [@TheBori](#): > > Easy Peasy Pumpkin Squeezy. Ain’t nothin’ _easy_ ‘bout squeezin’ a pumpkin! That’s why it’s supposed to be LEMON squeezy, you infidel. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/26 "2010-06-01T18:38:00Z")
Most places that run blood drives will do them every 8 weeks, so you can just find someplace convenient for you (churches are often a good bet) and just go whenever they have one. Myself, I donate to United Blood Services, since the Red Cross won’t take my blood (I have hereditary hemochromotosis, which doesn’t make my blood unsafe, but does generate paperwork/red tape that the Red Cross has decided they don’t want to deal with), but I don’t think they operate out East. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/27 "2010-06-01T18:53:23Z")
Call your favorite local bakery and ask if they have a regular blood drive? If they don’t suggest that they work something out with a local mobile blood bank. I only suggest this as you are more likely to get your free brownie this way. ---
**Author:** ![TheBori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@TheBori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBori)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/28 "2010-06-04T17:07:55Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Ain’t nothin’ _easy_ ‘bout squeezin’ a pumpkin! That’s why it’s supposed to be LEMON squeezy, you infidel. Bah… if it was easy, everyobody’d be doing it.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/29 "2010-06-05T01:16:56Z")
Look up the Red Cross online. They list where the bloodmobile and when. I wish I could give blood but I have a low hemocrit. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463/30 "2010-06-05T01:17:30Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > The main reasons I don’t give to the Red Cross are: their history of mismanagement of donations, their inadequate response to disasters, and reports from many former military personnel about their uselessness in times of need. I don’t think I want to be a lot more specific as these are mainly anecdotal, but I would suggest that those of you who think they are a good charity to ask anyone you know who has served in the armed forces or lived through a disaster how much help they got from the Red Cross. Wow. I was an active volunteer for the ARC for 15 years. CPR instructor and also worked disasters, including several hurricanes. I can absolutely guarantee that a ton of people get, and have gotten help, from the Red Cross. **Nemo** , is there a hospital near you? Go check with them about donating. If they don’t do drives there, they can most assuredly point you at who does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-donate-blood/541463.md?page=1)