New mobile blood donation center unveiled in Owensboro

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEVV) — A new mobile blood donation center was unveiled in Owensboro on Tuesday.

Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center (WKRBC) and Owensboro Health unveiled the new “Bloodmobile” on Tuesday morning.

In late 2020, Impact100 awarded a $100,000 grant to the WKRBC toward the purchase of a second bloodmobile. Owensboro Health matched the grant in 2021, and donations from Wal-Mart Giving, the Fraternal Order of Eagles 4168, and an additional $20,000 from raffles held by WKRBC covered the total $368,389 price tag.

The new Bloodmobile will allow WKRBC to expand its mobile donation efforts, providing a safe and reliable way for donors to give blood.

Owensboro Health is the main recipient of the WKRBC blood supply. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, the hospital used nearly 7,000 units of red blood cells, plasma and platelets from WKRBC. 

About half of WKRBC’s current donations are collected via blood drives on the existing bloodmobile.