Leader Publications hosted a blood drive July 31 with ImpactLife.
The drive came at a time when blood resources are strained nationwide and just days after the American Red Cross declared its second-ever national blood crisis.
Lorell Jones, the supervisor of the drive, said blood supplies often run lower during the summer.
“Our blood supply is short because over holiday weekends a lot of people have accidents and there are just a lot of people in the hospital in general,” Jones said.
The potential for higher demand pairs with lower donations since many schools are not hosting drives in the summer. Still, Tim Schwab, an account manager at ImpactLife, said their blood supplies are holding steady, supported by people who are making the time to come out and donate.
The vast majority of donated blood in the U.S., according to the American Red Cross, comes from voluntary, unpaid donors. Still, Jones said, most eligible donors do not give blood. He urges those who are eligible to give it a try and contribute to saving lives.
“Just try,” Jones said. “Needles are scary, don’t get me wrong. I’m also afraid of needles, so I get it. But we try to make the process as easy as possible. You can literally just stare out the window. We’re going to handle everything for you.”
Leader advertising manager Katelyn Mary Skaggs, who donated on July 31 and has been giving blood since high school, said it’s a much easier process than many might assume.
“You go through like one or two pinches, and that’s really it. And then the rest of the time, you sit there, and they feed you snacks and juice,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s not bad at all.”
After collection, those donations are taken back to ImpactLife’s processing center in Earth City. After about two days, those donations make their way into the community. Most of ImpactLife’s supply is distributed locally, given to area hospitals based on need. In times of crisis, those blood supplies, which are good for 42 days, can be sent across the country.
The drive ImpactLife hosted outside Leader offices on July 31 in one of their mobile donation buses collected enough to save upwards of 30 lives, Schwab said.
Those who are interested in donating can visit bloodcenter.org to find local collection sites or can visit one of ImpactLife’s permanent centers, including at 1726 Missouri State Road in Arnold.