The largest need for blood donations is typically the summer when schools that host blood drives are out of session, and the need is especially apparent during the current pandemic.

Impact Life, formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, lost around 32,000 units of blood in 2020 due to cancelled blood drives, and though schools may be allowing blood drives to occur again and community organizations continue to host drives, Donor Relations Consultant Chris Ciasto says an important partner they haven’t quite recovered is the business sector, as several companies have shifted to a work-from-home model, eliminating mobile drives at work places, “If it’s not convenient, if it’s not at their place of business where they’re able to stop by the blood drive and donate for 45 minutes or an hour. If you move it to a donor center and invite all the same people instead of seeing 50 or 100 people depending on where the blood drive’s at, you’re maybe seeing 10, 15 people come to our center to donate so it’s a very, very different dynamic than what we’re used to.”

Ciasto says all blood types are encouraged to donate, but those that are currently in critical need are O positive, O negative, and B negative. Upcoming drives around Washington County include May 26th at the United Presbyterian Home parking lot, June 1st at Brighton City Hall, and June 3rd at the Wayland Community Center. To schedule a donation, visit here.