Hello, my name is Libby Bair and I work with the Central Illinois Community Blood Center. Today I am writing to see if your group would be able to help us keep the local blood supply stable.
With many schools and office buildings operating remotely, we are looking at potentially unprecedented shortages due to the sheer amount of blood drives we are having to cancel that were scheduled for those locations. In fact, nearly 20% of our blood supply typically comes from high schools and colleges alone—many of them are unable to host now.
We are trying to identify community groups that are willing to promote blood donation, whether that be by encouraging their contacts to come to our Springfield Donor Center during a set period of time, or hosting a mobile blood drive event at a separate location.
We are running all our events by appointment only to enforce social distancing, requiring masks, along with other added precautions to ensure safety for all. I am happy to provide more information on that. Blood donation is exempt from Stay at Home orders as it is essential service.
Libby Bair | Donor Relations Consultant
Central Illinois Community Blood Center *a division of Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center
2801 South 10th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62703
(217) 241-7534 | lbair@mvrbc.org | www.bloodcenter.org