UK Happenings

Blood Drive on UK's Campus March 29-April 2 to Address Urgent Need

photo of person's arm while donating blood
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 26, 2021) A blood drive is scheduled on the University of Kentucky campus next week to help alleviate a serious blood shortage in Kentucky.

Kentucky Blood Center (KBC), which is the sole provider of blood products to UK Healthcare and 70+ other Kentucky hospitals, has seen a significant increase in blood usage at area hospitals. Coupled with fewer mobile blood drives than normal due to the pandemic and decreased high school and college blood drive events, the nonprofit is urging local citizens to donate blood as soon as they can.

KBC has an urgent need for all blood types and is encouraging donors to donate as soon as possible. The Blood Center strives to maintain a three- to four-day supply of blood to meet hospital needs. Currently, the blood center has less than a half-day supply.

“Local hospitals continue to transfuse blood at record rates,” said Dr. Dennis Williams, medical director for Kentucky Blood Center. “We are still seeing our ability to collect blood through mobile blood drives impacted by the pandemic and are urging people of all blood types to donate as soon as they can and as often as they are eligible.”

KBC is hosting its annual spring blood drive, Big Blue Spring Sprint 2021, on UK’s campus March 29-April 2. Information, including drive locations and times, is available on the KBC website or below. Donors receive a “Something’s Gotta Give” T-shirt and $5 Starbucks gift card.

For COVID-19 safety reasons, appointments are encouraged, and masks are required. Schedule your donation by calling 800-775-2522 or using the links below:

Monday, March 29 Buell Armory 6 a.m.–3 p.m.

Lewis Honors College 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tuesday, March 30 Lewis Honors College 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Wednesday, March 31 Buell Armory 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Lewis Honors College 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Thursday, April 1 Lewis Honors College 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Friday, April 2 Buell Armory 10 a.m.–5 .pm.

Lewis Honors College 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

On the day of your donation, you may complete your health history questions on your tablet, computer or smartphone prior to coming to the blood drive by using QuickPass.

KBC also allows donors to answer required health history questions electronically using a touch-screen tablet provided at the donation site.

Donations can also be made at KBC’s two donor centers in Lexington; their addresses are below. Appointments can be made at www.kybloodcenter.org or by calling 800-775-2522. The Andover and Beaumont Donor Centers are open from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Friday and 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturdays. Face coverings are required while donating. There is no wait time to donate after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Andover Donor Center

3130 Maple Leaf Drive, Lexington

Beaumont Donor Center

3121 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington

About Kentucky Blood Center

Celebrating more than 50 years of saving lives in Kentucky, KBC is the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville and Somerset.

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 health care. 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 $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.