Hillsboro residents can roll up their sleeves and help meet a critical summer need at the Hillsboro School District's community blood drive on July 14.

The district is aiming to collect 45 donations during the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the HSD Administration Center Board Room. The drive is open to anyone in the community, not just district employees.

Appointments can be scheduled in advance through the American Red Cross website at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code "hillsborosd1j," according to the district's social media announcement posted Tuesday, July 7.

The drive comes as blood centers nationally report summer donation shortages. Less than 3% of eligible Americans give blood, according to a 2026 report from America's Blood Centers and ADRP: The Association for Blood Donor Professionals.

The report found approximately 6.54 million donors nationwide in 2023, a slight decline from 2021. Summer months see fewer walk-in donors just as trauma centers face rising demand, CBS News reported.

One bright spot in the national data: donations from individuals ages 16 to 18 increased 66% between 2021 and 2023, a trend the America's Blood Centers report attributed to the growth of school-based blood drives following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hillsboro School District, Oregon's fourth-largest public school district serving 18,199 students in grades K–12, encouraged participants to bring family, friends, and neighbors to the July 14 event.

Walk-ins may be accepted, but scheduling an appointment in advance helps organizers plan for the 45-donation goal.

Upcoming Hillsboro community events

  • Tuesday, July 14: HSD Blood Drive, HSD Administration Center Board Room, 3083 NE 49th Pl., 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • Thursday, July 16: Showtime Concert Series, Shute Park (City of Hillsboro)
  • Thursday, July 17: Summer Reading Performance, Tamarack Park (Hillsboro Public Library)
  • Friday, July 24: Showtime Concert Series, Shute Park (City of Hillsboro)
  • Saturday, July 26: Disability Pride Month Event, Hidden Creek Park West (City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation)
  • Saturday, July 26: Pride All Ages Open Mic & Resource Fair, Rood Bridge Park (Our Bold Voices)
  • Friday, July 31: Summer Reading Performance, Frances Street Park (Hillsboro Public Library)
  • Ongoing through Tuesday, September 1: Hillsboro Tuesday Night Market, Civic Center Plaza