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The new sign-in system is the latest improvement to our website. The information you provide is kept completely confidential; noone will ever see it outside of HFARC. We will use the information to keep track of who we are serving, and to help us determine how to best continue serving you. Please send any feedback, complaints, or questions to us at redcross@hcs.harvard.edu. |
Just sign in to the appointment system, select donate/volunteer, and then either change or cancel the times you can no longer make. |
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We recommend making an appointment to speed up the donation process. You can do that here. If you can't plan ahead and make an appointment, you are welcome to just show up at the drive. |
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Check out this list maintained by the Red Cross for current eligibility information. If you are still unsure, feel free to go ahead and make an appointment. When you get to the drive, voice your concern to someone at the registration table; you will be able to speak with a nurse/doctor before waiting. The restrictions placed on donors (including those on travel and sexual relations) are mandated by the FDA on the Red Cross and all other licensed blood banking organizations. We appreciate the frustration that some of these restrictions incite, but we are unable to change these rules. The FDA explains its policies here. |
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The donation process is described briefly here and in greater depth by the Red Cross . Keep in mind that part of the donation process is the wait--with an appointment, you should be out within 1.5 hours of arriving; without an appointment you may face a 2 hour process. We recommend bringing a book or some work to do while you wait. |
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Don't be scared! Consider bringing a friend to talk to--and don't forget that there will be HBD volunteers (fellow Harvard students) at the drive to help you though--just let one of them know if they can help you in some way. Here's a list of tips to make your donation as easy as possible. One of the easiest things you can do is to make sure to eat a full meal and drink lots of fluids before donating. |
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To ensure your safety while donating, the Red Cross requires a certain minimum level of iron in your blood. If you fall below this level, you will simply not be allowed to donate that day; you can try again the next day if you want. College students, especially women, often fall below this cut off. Try eating iron-rich foods in the days/weeks leading up to the drive if you are worried: check out this list of iron-rich food. |
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We have approached the Red Cross with this question, and it is, unfortunately, impossible to have iron pre-testing. There are very strict guidelines that the Red Cross must follow to draw blood (even the tiny amount required to test for iron), which make this impossible. If you're concerned about your iron levels, try to eat iron-rich foods in the days/weeks preceding the drive--check out this list of iron-rich food. |
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Appointments get you through the donation process quicker by minimizing your wait time. Part of the time devoted to donating blood is, unfortunately, waiting. The entire process (waiting and donating) will take 1-2 hours, depending on how long the wait is. There are several ways you can help minimize your wait:
We recommend that you bring a book or some work so you have something to do while you wait. If you have questions, suggestions, or complaints, please email either HFARC (redcross@hcs.harvard.edu) or the Red Cross--but please keep in mind that waiting is part of the donation process, due to the Red Cross's strict procedures. |
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We would love your help! You can signup here to volunteer at the drive. |
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Volunteering is fun and easy to do! Don’t worry if you’ve never volunteered before—there will be instructions at the drive and experienced volunteers to help you out. You will either sit at the registration table signing in donors, or at the food table, feeding and entertaining donors after they give blood. And as a volunteer, you are eligible for all the raffles and giveaways we have at the drive! |
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There are several ways to help beyond volunteering your time at the drive. You can be a House/Yard Representative—email and poster your house in the week before the drive. You can also help with planning contests (like the t-shirt design contest or our competition against Yale), organizing raffle prizes, or other events/ideas. Email us at redcross@hcs.harvard.edu and let us know what you’re interested in. |
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HFARC is an organization of undergraduate students at Harvard University. Members volunteer at various capacities, from planning future drives to volunteering their time at the drives. Read our mission statement here. |
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Of course you can! Check out this page for more drives in the area. |
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Email us at redcross@hcs.harvard.edu. We'd love to hear from you. |