Vitalant and Townsquare Media Are Hosting Blood Drives Across Acadiana — You Could Win a Car for Donating

LAFAYETTE, La. - Vitalant and Townsquare Media are teaming up for the Race Against the Clock Blood Drive, running July 13–17, 2026, with donation sites popping up all across Acadiana. Whether you're in Lafayette, New Iberia, Opelousas, Abbeville, or beyond, there's a blood drive stop near you this week.

Why Blood Donations Are Critically Needed This Summer

Summer is historically one of the toughest seasons for blood donations. Regular schedules get disrupted by vacations and kids being out of school, and donations nationally often drop by several thousand around the July Fourth holiday, even though a patient needs blood every two seconds. At the same time, summer travel and outdoor activity can lead to more accidents, making a steady blood supply critical.

Every donor helps prevent treatment delays for patients. Type O blood is especially needed right now since it's compatible with most patients, and platelet donors are urgently needed too. Platelets must be used within a week of donation and are often critical for cancer patients.

READ MORE: Louisiana Residents Could Receive Checks Worth Up to $90,000

Real cases show just how much impact donors have. According to Vitalant, one woman with a GI bleed needed eight units of blood over a week while doctors diagnosed the cause, and a 37-year-old woman needed three units of platelets after complications from cardiac surgery.

If you haven't been eligible to donate in the past, it may be worth checking again. Updated donor guidelines and changing travel restrictions mean more people now qualify to give blood than before.

What Donors Can Win: Car Drawing, T-Shirts, and Local Gift Cards

Every donor who rolls up their sleeve during the Race Against the Clock Blood Drive gets a free t-shirt and is entered into a drawing for a car.

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Donors are also eligible to win gift cards from local Acadiana favorites, including:

• T-Coons
• Deano's
• Pizza Artista
• Texas Roadhouse
• Fat Pat's
• Super 1 Foods
• Tropical Smoothie
• Lou's Soulfood
• Bon Temps Grill
• Ambassador Car Wash
• Kart Ranch
• Blue Bell Ice Cream
• Chick-fil-A

On top of that, Sunshine Remarkable Housing, Thomas Trucking, and Unity Care Transportation LLC are donating Target, Starbucks, and Walmart gift cards for donors as well.

Full Schedule: Blood Drive Locations Across Acadiana July 13–17

July 13 | Rouses – New Iberia | 900 E Admiral Doyle Dr, New Iberia, LA 70560 | 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

July 14 | Piggly Wiggly – Church Point | 142 Plaquemine St., Church Point, LA 70525 | 9:30 am – 11:30 am

July 14 | Piggly Wiggly – Scott | 5525 Cameron St, Scott, LA 70583 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

July 14 | Super 1 Foods – Crowley | 2004 North Parkerson Avenue, Crowley, LA 70526 | 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm

July 14 | Walmart – Ville Platte | 891 E. Lasalle St, Ville Platte, LA 70586 | 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

July 14 | TopGolf Lafayette | 301 Meadow Farm Road, Lafayette, LA 70508 | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

July 14 | Super 1 – Eunice | 1800 W Laurel Ave, Eunice, LA 70535 | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

July 15 | Service Chevrolet Cadillac | 1212 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Lafayette, LA 70506 | 10:30 am – 1:00 pm

July 15 | Rouses Market Camellia – Lafayette | 1810 Camellia Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70508 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

July 15 | NuNu's Fresh Market – Maurice | 9512 Maurice Avenue, Maurice, LA 70555 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

July 15 | Champagne's Grocery – Abbeville | 604 S. State, Abbeville, LA 70510 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

July 15 | Super 1 Foods – Carencro | 3916 NE Evangeline Thruway, Carencro, LA 70520 | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

July 15 | Rouses – Plaquemine | 58440 Belleview Dr., Plaquemine, LA 70764 | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

July 15 | NuNu's Fresh Market – Youngsville | 509 Lafayette St., Youngsville, LA 70592 | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

July 15 | Rouses Market – Bertrand (Lafayette) | 601 Bertrand Dr., Lafayette, LA 70506 | 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm

July 16 | Home Bank – Lafayette | 503 Kaliste Saloom Road, Lafayette, LA 70508 | 10:30 am – 2:00 pm

July 16 | Walmart – Abbeville | 3005 Charity Street, Abbeville, LA 70510 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

July 16 | Walmart – Broussard | 123 Saint Nazaire Rd, Broussard, LA 70518 | 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm

July 16 | Walmart – Opelousas | 1629 E. Creswell Lane, Opelousas, LA 70570 | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

July 16 | Walmart Neighborhood Market – New Iberia | 1201 Parkview Dr, New Iberia, LA 70563 | 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

July 17 | Whole Foods Market – Lafayette | 4247 Ambassador Caffery, Lafayette, LA 70508 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

July 17 | Super One Foods – New Iberia | 939 South Lewis St., New Iberia, LA 70560 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

How to Schedule Your Blood Donation Appointment

Find the Vitalant blood drive location and time closest to you above, then book your appointment at Vitalant.org. Walk-ins may be available, but scheduling ahead helps keep the line moving.

One donation can help save multiple lives, and this week, it could also win you a car, a free t-shirt, or a gift card to some of Acadiana's favorite local spots.