Radio Bloomington blood drive has record setting first day

Posted on July 19, 2016

69 units of blood were donated on Monday. (WJBC file photo)

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – The 13th annual Radio Bloomington Red Cross Blood Drive had a successful first day.

American Red Cross of Central Illinois Blood Services Director Steve Stoewer said 69 units of blood was donated on Monday. He added 14 of those donors were giving blood for the first time.

“It was our best single day effort in the 13 years we’ve done this drive,” said Stoewer. “Last year, our two day total was 89 units for the two days. So we’re definitely on pace to pass that.”

Stoewer explained the Red Cross still has an emergency need for blood, which makes every donation important.

“We had a lot less blood drives around the area, and then even around the country, scheduled the week of and the week after the 4th of July holiday. That impacted the supply,” Stoewer said.

The all-time record for the blood drive came in 2014, when 114 total units were donated. The second day of the blood drive will be Aug. 1 at Avanti’s in Bloomington.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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