Kentucky Blood Center on UK’s campus Sept. 2-5
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 29, 2025) — As University of Kentucky students, staff and faculty start a new academic year, Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) is urging Wildcats to donate blood during the first of its four on-campus blood drive weeks in 2025-26.
KBC will host blood drives on UK’s campus Sept. 2-5 to collect lifesaving blood products for more than 70 Kentucky hospitals, including UK HealthCare. All drive times are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Campus locations include:
- Gatton Student Center (Ballroom A): Tuesday-Friday, Sept.2-5
- William T. Young Library (KBC Bloodmobile): Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept.2 and 3
- Lewis Honors College (Scholars Student Lounge): Thursday and Friday, Sept.4-5
All donors will receive a “Stay Wild” T-shirt and a $5 Starbucks gift card (while supplies last), and will be entered to win a $200 Amazon gift card. KBC will also make a $5 donation to a DanceBlue team of a donor’s choice for giving blood (donor must fill out a slip at donation).
Whole blood donations take less than an hour from registration to refreshment and can save up to three local lives. As the exclusive provider of blood to UK HealthCare, approximately 40% of all blood products collected by KBC benefit UK HealthCare patients for a wide range of treatments, including cancer, trauma, sickle cell, organ transplant, surgeries and much more.
The blood supply needs a boost. Donations decrease over the summer months while transfusions often increase, putting a strain on the blood supply. A big turnout by UK students, staff and faculty is needed to put blood back on the shelves for local hospitals.
Donors can schedule an appointment at bit.ly/KBC_UKFall25 or call 800-775-2522.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements.
About Kentucky Blood Center
Kentucky Blood Center, the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky, has been saving local lives since 1968. 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, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and the Tri-County area (Corbin).
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.