By Akash Mallady, American Red Cross volunteer

As we make our way through the first couple of weeks of the New Year, our “To Do” lists are no doubt full, maybe some with a few things that we should’ve taken care of in 2025. No judgements – we all have tasks we need to catch up on.

But when we’re making those lists and catching up on our tasks, are we keeping in mind the people who might need us the most?

Coming off the holiday season, the American Red Cross is teetering on a blood shortage. For the better part of the past two months, we’ve been focusing on time with family and friends, gathering around the dinner tables and the Christmas trees, sharing in all the seasonal joy. For patients who rely on lifesaving blood transfusions, their holidays were likely a little bit different – spent more in hospital beds than around holiday tables.

A blood shortage isn’t just felt on a large scale, but also on a deeply personal level. Patients with conditions such as sickle cell disease, cancer, or chronic anemia depend on regular transfusions. These winter months can delay travel plans or slow down our routines, but they don’t delay clinic visits for patients who rely on these transfusions. Their need is constant, just like the need for blood.  

As we settle into 2026, the Red Cross is encouraging donors to schedule a blood donation appointment to ensure the blood supply remains stocked. You can make your appointment by:

1. using the Red Cross Blood Donor App
2. visiting RedCrossBlood.org
3. or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS

And, if you donate blood between now and the end of January, you are automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to Super Bowl LX in the San Francisco Bay Area, as our thank you for helping during the critical post-holiday time!

The winner and guest will get to enjoy Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, CA, access to day-of in-stadium pregame activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare, three-night hotel accommodations (Feb. 6-9, 2026), plus a $1,000 gift cardfor expenses.Click here for more details!