St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and community leaders urge donations following nearly 40% post-holiday decline, leaving less than a two-day blood supply statewide
MINNESOTA — Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) was joined today by St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, healthcare leaders, blood recipients, and community partners for a press conference recognizing National Blood Donor Month and underscoring the urgent need for blood donations across Minnesota.
Earlier this week, MBC declared a blood emergency after blood donations fell nearly 40% below hospital needs due to holiday disruptions, winter weather, and widespread seasonal illness. The decline has left less than a two-day supply of blood available for more than 55 hospitals statewide.
The emergency comes at a time when many Minnesotans are looking for meaningful ways to support their communities. Blood donation remains one of the most direct and tangible ways individuals can help ensure hospitals have the resources they need to care for patients every day.
During the press conference, speakers emphasized the lifesaving importance of blood donation, shared firsthand perspectives from healthcare providers and patients, and urged Minnesotans to make blood donation a priority in the new year. Speakers and attendees included St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her; Dr. Claudia S. Cohn, Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Minnesota; Kayla Fahey-Ahrndt, Transfusion Medicine Program Manager at M Health Fairview; Stephanie and Jesse Wenker, parents of a pediatric blood recipient, Sarah; and Kathy Geist, Vice President of Blood Operations at Memorial Blood Centers.
“We are entering the new year with a critically low blood supply after a year that reminded us all how important it is for hospitals to be prepared for the unexpected,” said Kathy Geist, Vice President, Blood Operations at Memorial Blood Centers. “Blood is needed every day for trauma care, surgeries, cancer treatment, and more, and there is no substitute when donations fall short. We’re calling on our community to care for one another by making a lifesaving blood donation.”
To help prevent blood emergencies like this one, MBC encourages donors to become All Seasons Lifesavers by making blood donation a routine part of their lives and giving once each season in 2026. MBC also offers additional donor loyalty programs based on donation type, recognizing those who give consistently throughout the year. Learn more here.
In light of recent updates to FDA guidance, more people than ever may now be eligible to give. Blood donors can donate every 56 days, and platelet donors can give up to twice per month. To view current eligibility guidelines or make an appointment, visit mbc.org or call 1.888.448.3253.
