47 additional blood drives needed as holiday travel, school closures, and seasonal illnesses threaten the region’s blood supply
Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) is calling on local businesses, schools, places of worship, community groups and other organizations to host blood drives during the upcoming holiday season, particularly between December 21 and January 10. MBC needs approximately 1,106 additional blood donations, equivalent to 47 blood drives, to help meet hospital demand during the critical winter months.
Each month, hundreds of blood drives are made possible by organizations that open their doors and provide space for their employees, members, neighbors, and communities to donate. These partnerships are essential to maintaining the blood supply for area hospitals. But during the holidays, when schools close, businesses reduce operations, families travel, and seasonal illnesses increase, opportunities to donate blood decline dramatically.
This year, MBC is asking the community to help in a different way: not simply by donating blood, but by providing a place for others to donate.
The need is particularly urgent between December 21 and January 10, when the number of scheduled blood drives falls sharply. Last winter, MBC collected 1,100 fewer donations than needed during the two weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s, a shortfall of nearly 28%. During Christmas week alone, collections fell nearly 37% below hospital demand.
“While the holidays are a time of celebration for many Minnesotans, they can also be one of the most challenging times of year for our blood supply,” said Kathy Geist, Vice President of Operations at Memorial Blood Centers. “We saw firsthand last winter how quickly donations can decline during the holidays. We’re asking organizations to help us get ahead of that challenge by scheduling blood drives now, especially surrounding Christmas and New Year’s. Every blood drive helps ensure patients have access to the lifesaving blood products they need.”
Hosting a blood drive is easy, and MBC provides support every step of the way. Organizations interested in hosting a blood drive can complete a brief interest form online and will be connected with an MBC account manager to help coordinate and plan their drive.
