American Red Cross Is Offering Hello Kitty Collectibles For Your Blood

The American Red Cross has found a particularly cute way to encourage people to donate blood this September. Anyone who comes to give blood or platelets between September 1 and September 20 will receive an exclusive American Red Cross x Hello Kitty and Friends plush mascot clip and a surprise sticker pack, while supplies last.

The giveaway is part of a new collaboration between the Red Cross and Sanrio built around Hello Kitty and Friends, with the organization hoping the collectibles will help bring more donors through the door at a time when the national blood supply remains vulnerable.

The Red Cross says blood supplies have been recovering after reaching critically low levels earlier in the summer, but September brings a new set of challenges. Back-to-school schedules can make donors less available, while severe weather and tropical systems can disrupt blood drives and make it harder to collect donations in affected communities.

That is where Hello Kitty comes in. Rather than offering a standard promotional item, the Red Cross is giving donors a small collectible set tied directly to the Sanrio collaboration. The plush mascot clip is exclusive to the promotion, while the accompanying sticker pack is a surprise, adding a small blind-pack element for fans who enjoy collecting Sanrio merchandise.

The offer is available to people who come to donate either blood or platelets during the September 1-20 window. Supplies are limited, so the collectibles may not be available at every location for the entire promotion.

The Red Cross says one blood or platelet donation can help more than one patient, and it is encouraging donors to make appointments now to help keep hospitals supplied through September. Appointments can be scheduled through RedCrossBlood.org, the Red Cross Blood Donor App or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. The organization notes that all blood types are needed.