The Red Cross partners with the University of Evansville for blood drive

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEVV) —The Center for Innovation & Change and Alpha Phi Omega is hosting a blood drive today in Eykamp Hall until 6 P.M. to encourage everyone to save a life by giving blood. 

44News spoke with the Senior Administrative Assistant for the Center for Innovation & Change, Dina Willming, on the importance of giving back to the community through blood donations.

“Personally I give back because I’ve been impacted by blood donations and I feel as if we are giving forward. We might not know the person who is receiving our blood but we know somebody is receiving our blood,” Willming emphasizes.

Back-to-school season, summer travel and an already active hurricane season have hindered blood donations, resulting in a shortfall of about 30,000 blood donations in August alone. 

Right now, blood product distributions to hospitals are outpacing the number of blood donations coming in. The Red Cross is working with hospitals around the clock to meet the blood needs of patients – but they can’t do it alone. 

College students are often eager to make a positive impact on the world, and blood donation is one of the most direct ways to do that. 

Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime. The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community.