Donate blood at East Arizona College on Nov. 5 and become a hero for patients counting on lifesaving blood donations
THATCHER, Ariz., Nov. 2, 2026 — The community is invited to become a hometown hero and help meet the constant need for blood by donating on Nov. 5 at Eastern Arizona College’s Activity Center (615 N. Stadium Ave., Thatcher, AZ).
This year’s blood drive marks 25 years of partnership between Eastern Arizona College and the American Red Cross, a collaboration that has collected more than 28,000 units of blood and helped save countless lives.
Since its founding in 2001, the drive has become a cherished community tradition, bringing neighbors together year after year to support patients in need. The event collects an average of 165 units of blood, and this year organizers are challenging the community to help break the drive’s all-time record of 200 donations collected in a single day.
Every donation can make a lifesaving difference. Blood donors help ensure patients undergoing cancer treatment, trauma survivors, new mothers, premature babies and others have access to the blood products they need. Whether you’re a first-time donor or a longtime supporter, your donation can help save lives and be part of a record-setting day for the community.
The need for blood remains constant. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood products, and volunteer donors are essential to ensuring hospitals have blood available when patients need it most.
In November during National Diabetes Awareness Month, donors can help save lives AND empower their health! Successful November 2026 donations will get free A1C testing (one result per calendar year). Terms and additional information can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/Maze. To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code EAC, or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
