Virginia Beach Red Cross Blood, Platelet and Plasma Donation Center — Local services in Virginia Beach

"Critical need" for volunteers, yet turning away able and willing people who could help. According to their post, the demand was so high that it was impacting blood donation sites because there weren't enough volunteers. A whole month later after offering to help, a 3rd party background check company sends snail mail to say, American Red Cross isn't interested. I'm curious, who are they looking for to hand out juice boxes at the blood donation sites?! I've volunteered at facilities with much higher security standards and not had this issue, most organizations are grateful for help. This also happens with blood donation too, the American Red Cross advertises an "urgent" need for it, but then I read on these reviews how they've turned people away! Those are just the ones who took the time to post a review, so I don't know how many people have tried helping this organization and been turned away. Are monetary donations really desired? Sorry, not everyone can offer that, but plenty can offer their time and skill set. Disappointing seeing this play...

Zero donors in the building at 1:45pm on 02/18 , 2 separate staff greeted us at the door only to ask “do you have an appointment” and when we said we would like to walk in, those 2 CS1s that were not tied up with donors , because no donors were present, went to get the charge or CS2 to tell us they were not taking anything but appointments and that’s just how thier site operates. Definitely a bummer that this is still happening, even though this practice started during Covid to limit exposure and contact precautions but now all regions have bounced back after Covid and should be taking walkins along with their appointments, at least that’s what upper management would tell us …but we were given the justification that “staff were on lunch” and to come back another day. Absolutely terrible way to treat donors who go out of their way to find time to donate. But I guess I don’t really need to...

American Red Cross sends false emails just to get people in the door. On 5/17 I received an email stating you get a 20oz Red Cross water bottle if you donate prior to 5/31. So I made an appointment for 5/18 while at the appointment I asked about the water bottle and was told “not at this location” so it’s just lies to get in the door. If this location does not participate in the give always that are advertised by American Red Cross then this location should not be available through the link provided in the email. It’s false advertising and donors should be made aware at time of making appointment. I love being a blood donor, It something that people need! However I will not be donating to American Red Cross anymore. This is just another lie they tell people. Sad but I will be finding another place...