London Road Businesses Host Blood Drive

DULUTH — Minn. Statistics show that 1 in 3 people will need a blood transfusion of some kind during their lives, so when supplies get low, especially during holiday weekends, it’s blood drives like the one hosted by London Road businesses, Fox21 included, and Memorial Blood Centers that become critical for maintaining the Northland’s supply.

“Right now we are in what is called a blood emergency, and that blood emergency means that we have two days or less of reserve blood supply on our shelves.” said Kathryn Hamm, an account manager with Memorial Blood Centers.

A “blood emergency” which becomes even more critical when you consider how many people actually donate blood in the first place.

“So it’s about 62% of the population in the United States is eligible to donate blood.” said Hamm. “Recently, in the last couple of years, the FDA did lift some eligibility requirements, so that really opened the donor pool. But this the scary number in that is of that 62% of people who are eligible, only 3% of people do donate.”

However, you wouldn’t know it based on this year’s turnout, as the annual event is quickly becoming a favorite of both the organizers and participants.

“My team loves this event.” said CoraLee Christman, who’s StateFarm agency hosted the drive near the steps of its building. “They were here late last night, actually setting up the office and getting ready. They all participate. Everybody donates. We’ve got a couple of fear full of needles, but they still power through, and they donate, and they just love that we get back to such a good cause. It’s amazing.

The thing that unites all these donors however? A love for people they have never met, which is exactly why Hamm is in her career in the first place.

“We need to be caring for each other. And this is one of those ways it’s so simple and it’s so selfless, and it’s just such an act of compassion to come out and do, and as a person who strives to do that in all areas of my life, to connect it to my work, and to know that I am helping people is means a lot to me.” said Hamm.

Memorial Blood Centers is always accepting new donors, and invite you to schedule a donation today on their website.