Live In Warrensburg? You Can Combat the Blood Shortage

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take its toll on blood donations, but if you're in the Warrnesburg area there is an opportunity for you to help. Warrensburg's Police and Fire Departments are sponsoring a blood drive this Friday, February 5.

According to Community Blood Center, which is running the drive, some of the challenges communities are facing that contribute to our blood shortage include:

• High schools and colleges not holding blood drives, or not holding in person classes causing blood drives not to be held.
• Office workers working remotely.
• Utility, government and hospital workers not donating with the same frequency as they did before the pandemic.

Yet  those of us who live in Warrensburg are in a unique position to help. If we work in town. Go to University of Central Missouri or Warrensburg High School. Or live in town then it's not all that inconvenient to go over to the Warrensburg Community Center and donate. You can even schedule a time to donate here, so you know exactly how long it will take to donate.

Walk in's will try to be accommodated, however appointments are appreciated. Hours for the blood drive, which is taking place in the conference room at the Warrensburg Community Center, are from 9:00AM - 6:00PM. As of Sunday January 31, there are plenty of open appointments available between 9:45AM - 4:00PM including lunch hour appointments.

Donors must be 17 and older, 16 with parental consent. There are a variety of reasons someone may be temporarily unable to donate including not feeling well for any reason, a cold, the flu, COVID-19, pregnancy, international travel and blood transfusion. For a complete list of reasons why you may not be able to donate you can check out this list.