The Coffee Memorial Blood Center is not currently in an emergency blood appeal, but is needing to take the necessary steps not to get there. The entire blood industry is faced with a problem like we have never seen before.

After months of post-pandemic struggles, our red blood cell supply is drifting into failure. We are entering a phase where it is possible blood will only be available while supplies last. Blood is perishable and it last just 42 days on the shelf. The blood supply requires constant replenishment. This difficulty has been worsening despite our continuing, exhausting efforts to correct the course and educate our community on the need. 

This is where we need help, we need to educate our community on this need, and we need them to come in and donate at our center or a mobile blood drive near them. That is the solution to our problem, we need our community to hear the call and act now. It is possible for someone to donate six times per year, but the average donor donates 1.8 times. We need members of our community to commit to donating a minimum of four to six times per year.

NOTE: According to CMBC Administrative Coordinator Cassandra Neal, the next blood drive in Canadian is scheduled for July 13. More information will be posted closer to that date.