Mizzou Homecoming Blood Drive comes amid high demand after Hurricane Helene

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The American Red Cross says it is in need of blood donations as it continues to help victims of Hurricane Helene and is bracing to respond to Hurricane Milton.

This comes as the University of Missouri is hosting its 41st Homecoming Blood Drive.

According to a Red Cross news release, since the storm made landfall more than 100 blood drives have been canceled, causing more than a thousand donations to go uncollected.

"We have not been able to have blood drives in some cases ... because of all the power outages, to be able to protect the blood supply," said executive director of the Central and Northern Missouri chapter of the American Red Cross, Rebecca Gordon.

Gordon said the American Red Cross is collecting donations to have enough blood for areas where it's already needed and for the Southeast as it recovers.

"We are not impacted by these storms," Gordon said. "You start to move to our neighbor, to the east, eastern Tennessee was impacted. If you give blood today, it may not go all the way into the Carolinas or Georgia or Florida, but it's going to go where it's needed most."

Some donors at the Homecoming blood drive had Hurricane Helene victims top of mind when donating on Tuesday.

"The prospect of other people suffering and needing help and we're here within a great life, perfectly healthy, I think it's it's a great time to donate," blood donor Josh Niermann said.

Another blood donor, Sam Mitchell, said it was unbelievable to see the devastation from Helene.

"It's terrible that people can't even have a normal life just because of a hurricane, it's unbelievable, it really is," Mitchell said. "So donating blood, just getting it out there. it's just it's the only thing I can do right now."

Kelsey Kimes, an avid donor who also works in the medical field, said the effects of the blood shortage extend beyond the areas inundated by Helene, which has killed more than 200 people in Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida and Virginia.

"There's definitely a lot of shortages ever since the hurricane, especially even in our hospital here," Kimes said. "I just want to help out as much as I can and help out that shortage."

Mitchell said giving blood is the perfect way to help those who need it.

"I think giving blood is a perfect way to do that it takes 30 minutes to an hour out of my time," Mitchell said. "I think it's selfless to do that because so many people need help and I can just do it."

The University of Missouri is hosting its 41st annual Homecoming Blood Drive from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Mizzou Rec.

Mizzou's Homecoming Blood Drive is one of the largest student-run blood drives in the country.

To donate in support of Mizzou's Homecoming blood drive, go to the American Red Cross' website, call them, or download the donor app and enter the code MIZZOU.

Helene made landfall on Sept. 26 in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. It moved inland and dumped heavy rain in the southern Appalachians, claiming more than 200 lives across six states and leaving thousands of people displaced.

Gordon said the American Red Cross had teams, assets and supplies stationed in the area before Hurricane Helene made landfall.

The American Red Cross supplies 40% of the United States' blood supply.