Kerr County to host blood drive on Nov. 9

Promotional graphic announcing the Kerr County Blood Drive on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. The background features the Happy State Bank Expo Hall at the Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas, beneath a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. Large navy-blue script lettering reading “Kerr County” appears over a yellow brushstroke, with bold red sans-serif lettering reading “Blood Drive” directly below. A red blood droplet replaces the second letter “o” in “Blood.” At the bottom, a dark navy-blue banner outlined in gold prominently displays the date: “MONDAY, NOV. 9, 2026” in large white lettering.
Promotional graphic announcing the Kerr County Blood Drive on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. The background features the Happy State Bank Expo Hall at the Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas, beneath a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. Large navy-blue script lettering reading “Kerr County” appears over a yellow brushstroke, with bold red sans-serif lettering reading “Blood Drive” directly below. A red blood droplet replaces the second letter “o” in “Blood.” At the bottom, a dark navy-blue banner outlined in gold prominently displays the date: “MONDAY, NOV. 9, 2026” in large white lettering.

Right ahead of the holiday season, Kerr County residents will have the opportunity to give something of themselves that can save the lives of other Texans. A blood drive is planned Monday, Nov. 9, in the Happy State Bank Expo Hall at the Hill Country Youth Event Center, 3785 TX27 in Kerrville.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center will have qualified staff on hand to receive donations that are essential to maintaining a reliable supply for hospitals throughout the region. Donated blood helps patients undergoing cancer treatments, suffering traumatic injuries, experiencing childbirth complications or undergoing major surgeries.

“A single blood donation can help save up to three lives,” said Jake Williamson, general manager of the center, as well as the local blood drive coordinator. “In return for just a little bit of their time, every donor in the Nov. 9 drive will receive a $10 HEB gift card.”

What to expect

For those who have never donated blood before but are interested in doing so, they should know that the process is relatively simple and conducted by trained professionals.

Donors should begin by signing up for a time slot that suits them by visiting: https://donor.southtexasblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/152884, by searching out the South Texas Blood and Tissue website and clicking on “Donate Blood Near You” button on the homepage or by simply scanning this QR code:

When they arrive, donors will be asked to present a valid photo ID and fill out a completely confidential health questionnaire. A brief screening that includes checks of their temperature, pulse, blood pressure and iron levels will be performed before the blood donation begins.

Once eligibility is confirmed, a trained specialist will clean an areas of the donor’s arm and a sterile, single-use needle will be used to collected the blood.

The collection procedure takes about 15-20 minutes, while a few additional minutes are needed to registration, screening and a short recovery period afterward during which refreshments are served.

To prepare, prospective donors should get a good night’s sleep, eat a nutritious meal and drink plenty of water before arriving.

 Who can donate?

Individuals aged 17 and older who weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health may be eligible to donate. Those who are 16 may also qualify if they weigh at least 120 pounds and provide a signed parental consent form.

Final eligibility of an individual is determined by results of the health screening. Certain medications, conditions or travel histories may affect eligibility.

For questions about eligibility, contact the South Texas Blood and Tissue center at 210-731-5590.

 For additional information about the local drive, contact Williamson by emailing Jake.Williamson@oakviewgroup.com or by calling 830-896-9044.

Kerr County Blood Drive promotional poster featuring a photograph of the Happy State Bank Expo Hall at the Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas. Large red and navy-blue lettering reads “Blood Drive — Give the Gift of Life!”  The blood drive will take place Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hill Country Youth Event Center, Happy State Bank Expo Hall, 3785 TX-27, Kerrville, TX 78028.  Every blood donor will receive a $10 H-E-B gift card as a thank-you. The poster emphasizes that one blood donation can help save up to three lives. Donated blood helps patients with serious injuries, supports cancer treatments and surgeries, and assists mothers, children and others in need.  A QR code is provided to schedule an appointment. Blood Drive Coordinator Jake Williamson can be contacted at Jake.Williamson@oakviewgroup.com. For questions about blood donation, contact South Texas Blood & Tissue at 210-731-5590.  Individuals who are 16 years old may be eligible to donate with parental consent.  The poster uses red, navy blue, white and yellow graphics, with blood-drop, heart and medical icons, an H-E-B gift card illustration, and South Texas Blood & Tissue branding.