Boost the blood supply: DOUGH-nate at upcoming campus drives
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 28. 2026) — The great thing about donating blood is that just about anyone can do it. No “dough” is needed to make a difference in your community — all it takes is a little bit of time and a pint of blood.
University of Kentucky students, staff and faculty can grab a slice of saving lives at the upcoming Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) drives on UK’s campus. The blood drives, Aug. 31-Sept. 4, will collect blood products for more than 70 Kentucky hospitals. Approximately 40% of all blood products collected by KBC benefit UK HealthCare patients
All donors will receive a coupon for a free 7-inch pizza from Donatos Pizza, a $10 Starbucks gift card and a “Grab a Slice of Saving Lives” T-shirt (while supplies last) as a thank you for adding a key piece to the blood supply.
There are three locations available to donate listed below. Donors can schedule an appointment at bit.ly/UK_DonateBlood_Fall26 or call 800-775-2522. Walk-ins are welcome. All drive times are from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Gatton Student Center (Ballroom A): Monday-Friday, Aug. 31-Sept. 4
- William T. Young Library (KBC Bloodmobile): Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1
- Lewis Honors College (Scholars Student Lounge): Thursday and Friday, Sept. 3 and 4
Kentucky Blood Center will also make a $5 donation to a DanceBlue team of a donor’s choosing for giving blood (donor must fill out a slip at donation). KBC also partners with UK Invests, which will make a deposit in the enrolled accounts of students who participate in the blood drive.
It’s been a difficult summer on the blood supply. Donations, as they often do in the summer months, suffered because of seasonal vacations, an absence of school blood drives and extreme temperatures, which deter donors from attending drives. At the same time, transfusions increased during trauma season when emergency rooms saw an uptick in severe, life-threatening injuries, many of which required blood.
KBC needs a significant turnout by UK students, staff and faculty to restock hospital shelves. Because blood cannot be manufactured, the health of the local blood supply relies entirely on the generosity of Kentucky donors. Blood products are used for a wide range of treatments, including cancer, trauma, sickle cell disease, organ transplant and surgeries.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health, show a photo ID and meet additional requirements.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.