Texas is currently facing a critical emergency-level blood shortage.
Severe weather in the first two months of 2026, including recent winter storms, forced the cancellation of blood drives, causing a 35% drop in supplies over the past month and creating an urgent need for donations to support hospital patients, according to the American Red Cross.
The shortage is forcing medical professionals to make serious choices about conserving the available blood supply by deciding who receives transfusions and who will need to wait until more blood becomes available at impacted hospitals in Texas.
Across its 12 facilities in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas Health System (STHS) has been taking proactive measures to avoid a potential blood shortage.
STHS is teaming up with South Texas Blood & Tissue – the sole blood provider for STHS’ facilities – to host a three-day community blood drive aimed at building up the supply in South Texas.
“Every day, nearly 40,000 blood donations are required in the U.S. to meet patient needs,” says Yvonne Wheeler, Donor Recruitment Coordinator, South Texas Blood & Tissue. “A single blood donation, typically a pint, can save or help up to three lives because the blood is usually separated into three key components—red blood cells, plasma, and platelets—which can be used individually for different patients.”
Next week, STHS will host mobile blood drives at three of its facilities: STHS McAllen, STHS ER Weslaco, STHS ER Mission and STHS Edinburg. The drives will take place in the main parking lot of the host facilities, scheduled as follows:
South Texas Health System McAllen: Monday, February 23, 2026, from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.
South Texas Health System ER Weslaco: Tuesday, February 24, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
South Texas Health System ER Mission: Tuesday, February 24, 2026, from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
South Texas Health System Edinburg: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent) and in general good health to donate blood. You are encouraged to eat a healthy meal, drink additional water and avoid energy drinks if you plan to donate. A valid photo ID is required to donate.
Sign-ups are strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome. As a thank you for their lifesaving blood donation, donors will receive a special Rally the Valley T-shirt.
For more information and to reserve your appointment online, please visit STHSWellness.com or contact Yvonne Wheeler with South Texas Blood & Tissue at yvonne.wheeler@southtexasblood.org.
Who: South Texas Health System & South Texas Blood & Tissue
What: Community Blood Drives
When: Monday February 23, 2026 – Tuesday, February 23, 2026, various times
Where: South Texas Health System McAllen, 301 W. Expressway 83, McAllen, TX 78503 South Texas Health System ER Weslaco, 330 W. Expressway 83, Weslaco, TX 78596 South Texas Health System ER Mission, 900 E. Expressway 83, Mission, TX 78572 South Texas Health System Edinburg, 1102 W. Trenton Rd., Edinburg, TX 78539
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level II Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
About South Texas Blood & Tissue
South Texas Blood & Tissue (STB&T) is a nonprofit community blood center that provides blood, plasma, platelets and other blood components to more than 100 hospitals and healthcare providers throughout Texas and beyond. As the largest blood supplier in South Texas, STB&T conducts hundreds of mobile blood drives each year and provides over 400,000 units of blood to our healthcare partners.
