Holiday Blood Shortage
By: Jennifer Penate
Updated: November 21, 2012
JOPLIN, MO -- Workers at a local blood bank ask you to keep them in mind during the season of giving.
The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks inside the Northpark Mall will not be collecting blood for four days straight starting tomorrow.
Halting donations will mean a shortage of blood supply during the holiday season when it's critically needed.
The center provides blood for 37 area hospitals.
Workers ask you to give after Thanksgiving to ensure a stable supply of blood.
"We know that if everyone eligible would give blood four times a year we would not have those down times where's no blood to be found," says Karen Ringler with the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.
The center is mostly in need of "O" negative blood. You can donate Monday through Friday from 11 to 6 in the evening.
