Is donating at American Red Cross paid or volunteer?

American Red Cross appears to be a volunteer blood donation site — donations are unpaid and go to patients in need.

What can I donate at American Red Cross?

Based on the operator, this center collects whole blood, power red (double red cells), platelets, plasma. Availability can vary — confirm with the center.

Do I need an appointment to donate?

Many centers prefer or require an appointment. You can usually schedule through American Red Cross.

American Red Cross

Verified active

♥ VolunteerWhole bloodPower RedPlateletsPlasma

5380 W Franklin Rd, Boise, ID, 83705-1191

(208)342-4500

Operator: American Red Cross

★★★★★2.5 (2 reviews)

Schedule a donation →

via American Red Cross

Get directions →

Before you go

✅ Bring a photo ID and a list of any medications.
💧 Hydrate well and eat iron-rich food beforehand.
😴 Get a good night's sleep; avoid heavy exercise right after.
🕒 Set aside about an hour (about 1 hour (10 min in the chair)).

Check if you're eligible →See who your blood type helps →

Donor reviews (2)

Historical community reviews restored from the original BloodBanker directory.

Blood Donation Today2010-10-26
★★★★★
Updated Schedule of blood donation at American Red Cross at Boise, Idaho Phone: 1-800-274-4024 Hours of Operation: Whole Blood Hours: Monday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Thursday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Friday 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM* Sunday CLOSED Apheresis Hours: Monday 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM Tuesday 10:30 AM - 6:00 PM Wednesday 6:30 AM - 2:00 PM Thursday 6:30 AM - 2:00 PM Friday 6:30 AM - 2:00 PM Saturday 6:30 AM - 2:00 PM Sunday 6:30 AM - 2:00 PM*
Person w/ Hemochromatosis2008-03-23
★★★★★
Blood Banking and Hemochromatosis in the U.S. IOD is proud to say that after years of working on the problem we have finally made a difference. Since April 1999 the Committee on Blood Safety and Availability has removed the necessity to label hemochromatosis blood for donor use. Now blood banks may apply for a variance from the FDA to use this blood without labeling. For years this blood could be used as donor blood but it had to be labeled that it came from a hemochromatosis patient - Code of Federal Regulation Title 21, 640.3 (d). This is still in place for all blood banks. IOD thinks that the blood banks are the best setting for therapeutic phlebotomies. Because they have the latest equipment and staffs well trained in the process. If they are using this as donor blood then there is no charge to the patient or insurance company. To qualify, this blood will have to meet all other criteria for safety. Most blood banks are throwing away the phlebotomized blood, even while they complain of severe shortages. This blood is not iron rich as is supposed. This blood, which is given more frequently, has longer lived cells and is excellent transfusion blood for those severe anemia patients who need it. The transfusions are of course themselves iron loading and used only for the most severe cases of anemia. So there is a great benefit to reducing the frequency of the transfusions. IOD issued a challenge to American blood banking to measure donor's iron as is done in Sweden. This challenge was issued June 2001 at a workshop sponsored by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Sweden also has used phlebotomies as donor blood since 1984. The blood banks in Sweden are even screening for hemochromatosis.