On World Blood Donor Day, Local Centers Say Need Is High

World Blood Donor Day is this Sunday, June 14. Community Blood Center and Hoxworth both are encouraging people to donate.

Hoxworth Public Relations Director Alecia Lipton says supplies are running low.

"We are using more (blood) now because hospitals are opening back up, so those surgeries that were delayed... It's summer so unfortunately we do see more traumas. Surgiers are ramping up, chemotherapy is ramping up, different types of transplant therapy are ramping back up and all of those are in need of blood."

Both blood banks say donations were strong early in the pandemic. Hoxworth, however, issued an urgent appeal for donations last week.

"As time has gone on and things have gotten back to a new state of normal - people are going back to work - donations have fallen by the wayside again. We really need people to come in now. If they made that donation at the beginning of March, they're now eligible again."

Heightened cleaning and physical distancing procedures remain in place.

Blood and blood components are both needed.

"We can’t do it alone," says Community Blood Center Donor Relations Director Tracy Morgan. "We challenge you to make two or more appointments to donate this year, keep those commitments, and encourage others to help save lives."

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