HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —
The winter storm that dropped several inches of snow across Kansas and Oklahoma has forced the cancellation of several blood drives in the region this week. Together, those canceled drives have cost the Red Cross of Kansas and Oklahoma at least a day's worth of blood.
The national blood supply has been low enough that the American Red Cross declared its first-ever national blood crisis in January. Kansas and Oklahoma avoided winter weather last month that caused organizers and partners across the country to call off hundreds of blood drives, but COVID-related cancelations in the region led to more than 2,100 planned donations going uncollected.
Those who come to give blood in February will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email, thanks to Amazon. (Terms apply. Visit rcblood.org/together.)
Area blood drives are in Inman on February 11 at St. Peter's United Church of Christ from noon to 6 p.m., at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center on February 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at Central Christian School in Hutchinson on March 7 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.