‘Local4 You Blood Drive’ in need of more donors

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – Every two seconds someone needs some form of blood products, but the problem is currently there is more blood going out than coming in.

That’s why Local4 is once again teaming up with the American Red Cross for the ‘Local4 You’ Blood Drive on Oct. 10 from noon till 6 p.m., in Grand Island, Hastings, and Kearney.

Jeremy Aupperlee with the American Red Cross said blood donations are down right now and their hoping to build them back up.

“We had a historically low donor turnout this summer, that’s having a huge impact with our hospitals,” Aupperlee said. “Right now just to meet the need, we would need to collect an additional 10,000 units every single week just to make up for the summer shortage.”

Aupperlee said as of Friday morning, dozens have signed up to donate, but many many more are needed.

“Right now we are low in appointments, we have 45 donors scheduled for all three cities, and we’re trying to hit about 75 to 100, so there are plenty of openings,” Aupperlee told Local4 News. “So we are encouraging donors who are maybe new, who haven’t given before, please make an appointment, come out.”

Aupperlee noted it’s important they get the blood now.

“We’re also worried because harvest is coming up here in central Nebraska, we’re losing donors from harvest, a lot of our regular donors are out in the fields, and then pretty soon here we’re going to have winter weather coming up,” Aupperlee said.

The blood drive will be held from Noon to 6 p.m. at the following locations:

• First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church (501 N. Burlington, Hastings, NE)
• Calvary Lutheran Church (1304 N. Custer, Grand Island, NE)
• Ft. Kearney Chapter (520 W. 48th St., Kearney, NE)

There are several ways all eligible donors can make an appointment to donate:

• Visit RedCrossBlood.org
• Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
• Download the free Red Cross Blood Donor app
• Use sponsor code KSNB Local4
• Use Rapid Pass to save time at your donation. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to access.

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