Step up to give. Rebuild the blood supply. Get a $20 gift card.

The American Red Cross urges people to act now to help offset the severe impact of recent winter storms on efforts to rebuild the blood supply during an ongoing blood shortage. Donors of all blood types are asked to make a blood or platelet donation appointment as soon as possible.

The Red Cross continues to face a severe blood shortage, and dangerous winter weather is now compounding the serious shortfall in lifesaving blood products. Over 500 blood drives have been canceled since the beginning of the year, resulting in more than 20,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations.

All who come to give Jan. 26-Feb. 28, 2026, will receive a $20 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. See RedCrossBlood.org/Heart for details.

ARCAN Board Vice President Jono Anzalone recently rolled up his sleeve to give. He posted the photo above on the ARCAN LinkedIn feed with this note:

“Today I rolled up my sleeve and donated blood for the first time in 30 years.

Honestly? I had avoided it for decades because of a simple, very human reason: a fear of needles. It sounds small, but it stuck with me longer than I’d like to admit.

“But this week, the American Red Cross of Northern New England announced a severe blood shortage. Hospital demand is outpacing supply, and inventory has dropped roughly 35% in just the past month.