Red Cross holding four days of blood drives between Manhattan, JC

Amid a national blood shortage, the American Red Cross is hosting four days of blood drives in the Manhattan and Junction City areas this week.

Red Cross Account Manager Kristi Ingalls spoke with KMAN and says the need for blood is dire as the Red Cross has less than 3 days supply of blood currently available across the nation.

“With storms coming or having come and then also with the holidays we’ve just seen a big dip in our donations,” says Ingalls. “A lot of it is illness as well, where we have a lot of people who are normal donors can’t come in to donate because they’re sick. So we’re asking those who are healthy to step up to the plate and donate.”

The Red Cross will be at Pottorf Hall in Cico Park in the Manhattan area on Tuesday, Jan. 15, from noon to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Their goal is to collect 200 pints for those days.

“We really need about 260 people over the two days to come in in order to reach that,” says Ingalls. “We will of course see people who came in, they find out some kind of medication that they’re on or just that they’re not feeling well that day. And even some who, you know, you can’t always pass that iron test, you can’t always be hydrated enough to get that pint of blood out.”

Then they’ll be in the Junction City Municipal Building on Thursday, Jan. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday, Jan. 18, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The blood drive also falls on JC blood drive organizers Tom and Joyce McRae’s 50th wedding anniversary.

“And they actually requested that this blood drive be on their wedding anniversary,” Ingalls says. “Because it’s their 50th wedding anniversary, we’re trying to get 50 pints of blood for Thursday and 50 pints of blood for Friday.”

For Manhattan area donors, Ingalls says they see much fewer donations on the second day of this drive. She also says they see most donors at the beginning and end of the drive, and recommends coming in around the middle of the day if you’re looking to try to avoid lines.

They are accepting walk-ins, but appointments are recommended. You can make an appointment by calling 1-800-Red-Cross, online, or on the Red Cross app. Remember to bring a photo ID as well as your donor card if you’re a regular donor.