Blood Drive at the Collaboratory Arrives During Only the Second National Blood Supply Crisis in Red Cross History

The American Red Cross has applied the word crisis to the national blood supply for only the second time in the organization’s history, after the supply fell nearly 25% in June and summer donations dropped to a four-year low, according to a Red Cross release issued July 27.

On Monday, three organizations will open a donation site in Altadena together.

Pasadena Village, the Eaton Fire Collaborative and the Red Cross are co-hosting a drive at the Collaboratory, the community hub at 540 W. Woodbury Road that opened in October 2025 as the physical home of the Eaton Fire Collaborative’s recovery operations. Organizers say they need 25 donors for the drive to meet its goal, according to the Pasadena Village event listing.

The Eaton Fire, which ignited January 7, 2025, destroyed more than 9,000 structures across Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre. The Collaboratory has since functioned as a single address where survivors can reach vetted resources and connect with the organizations coordinating long-term recovery, according to the Eaton Fire Collaborative. The site pairs a warehouse where survivors can pick up supplies with meeting and gathering space, according to the Pasadena Community Foundation.

Pasadena Village, the nonprofit sponsoring the drive, serves adults 55 and older and is led by Executive Director Katie Brandon. The organization is offering free rides to anyone who needs transportation; donors can select “Need a Ride” when registering or email info@pasadenavillage.org.

Appointments are made at RedCrossBlood.org by entering “Village” as the sponsor code, then selecting the August 3 listing, which appears as Eaton Fire Collaborative – The Collaboratory, Sponsor: Pasadena Village. The event is free and open to the public.

Monday, August 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Collaboratory, 540 W. Woodbury Road, Altadena. For more information, call Pasadena Village at (626) 765-6037 or visit pasadenavillage.org. Venue details are at eatonfirecollaborative.org. Appointments can be scheduled at RedCrossBlood.org using sponsor code “Village.” Admission is free.