OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The Southeast Iowa Blood Bank needs your help to stock its shelves.
The annual River of Life blood drive will be held Thursday from 11:30 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa. The organization’s goal is to hit 70 units of blood. Each unit makes up about one pint or two and a half cups of blood.
Ashleigh Steele, a donor resource consultant, says weather actually factors in to the amount of blood donated.
“You know this year is coming after we've lost more than a thousand potential units in December and January because of winter weather that forces cancellations of blood drives,” said Steele. “So we have a need for our inventory levels to be boosted.”
One person donating blood can go a long way. Steele says the minor discomfort you feel when donating is nothing compared to the good you are doing.
“You can save up to three lives with every single donation and that's certainly a small price to pay: an hour of your time, a little needle stick to save that many lives.”
Food from Subway and Pizza Hut will be donated for people who come in to role up their sleeves.
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