Molly Bowden Memorial Blood Drive taking place Friday as American Red Cross experiences shortage
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The American Red Cross is experiencing its lowest number of blood donors nationwide in 20 years, according to a news release.
It said this is causing blood products to go out to hospitals quicker than donations are coming in, causing the nonprofit to limit distribution to hospitals in recent weeks. However, MU Health Care and Boone Health representatives both said they are not currently experiencing a shortage of blood.
Rebecca Gordon, executive director of the Central and Northern Missouri Chapter of the Red Cross, said Mid-Missouri has never experienced this type of shortage.
"In 2023 we also went through a blood supply shortage. This exceeds that," Gordon said. "With the weather coming in and kind of impacting the entire country, it is very, very difficult to make back what we've lost."
She said there is no particular type of blood that is more needed in Missouri, but the news release said type-O blood and platelets are needed the most nationally.
"It's incredibly critical when you have anything from trauma, surgeries, anything like that including servicing cancer patients, that kind of dip in blood supply makes doctors, physicians, hospitals have to make decisions about how they're managing their care," Gordon said. "So, it is imperative for us to be able to provide the blood that is needed across the United States and especially to central Missouri."
Nationally, the news release said donors have decreased by 40% in 20 years.
Gordon said the chapter is hoping to get about 50-60 units, or pints, of blood from the Officer Molly Bowden Memorial Blood Drive on Friday.
The Blood Drive pays memory to fallen Columbia Police Department officer Molly Bowden who was killed in the line of duty in 2005.
Bowden was with the department for just over three years when she conducted a routine traffic stop and was shot multiple times. She was 26 years old when she died and was the first Columbia Police officer killed in the line of duty.
Her partner at the time, Chad Craig, still works for the Columbia Police Department and helps organize the blood drive every year. When he thinks of his former partner, he said she was very energetic and really enjoyed what she did.
He said the initial blood drive to help Bowden in 2005 was a huge success, and it's continuing almost 20 years later because of everything it did for her and the community.
"It's just a way to support one another in the worst time of need. If somebody needs blood, it's for critical reasons," Craig said. "This is just another way we can serve the community."
He said the Blood Drive usually attracts around 90 blood donors, but they are expecting a smaller turnout this year due to weather. Gordon said the Central and Northern Missouri Chapter has already had to cancel some events this winter due to the harsh weather, furthering the shortage.
The Blood Drive will take place Friday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Grace Bible Church on Blue Ridge Road.
People can make an appointment to donate blood by going to redcrossblood.org and using the code 'Molly Bowden.'
