Labor Day weekend adds urgency to critical blood shortage


Labor Day weekend adds urgency to critical blood shortage

Donors needed ASAP to help local hospital patients

CHICAGO (Sept. 1, 2026) – The Community Blood Center (CBC) urges donors to give now as an emergency blood shortage meets one of the year’s busiest travel weekends.  

All blood types are in critical need, with multiple at just a two-to-three-day supply on hand. Many local patients at hospitals CBC supports needed extra emergency blood products over the weekend, lowering the units available for everyday treatments and unexpected traumas. 

Labor Day weekend is one of the most challenging times for the blood supply. Donations drop as people leave town, but the need for blood never takes a holiday. Local hospital patients constantly need transfusions during surgeries, emergencies, cancer care and more.

“As families enjoy the long weekend, local patients are still counting on us,” said John Hagins, President & CEO of The Community Blood Center. “Every donation with CBC helps provide blood products to patients in the communities we serve. Donating this Labor Day weekend is a simple way to make a lifesaving difference close to home.”

Someone in the United States needs blood every two seconds, yet only about 3% of eligible Americans donate each year.

As a small thank you, blood donors receive a $20 eGift Card after scheduling and presenting to donate using promo code “HOLIDAY20” at CBC’s Beverly Donor Center at 9920 S. Western Ave., Chicago on Friday, Sept. 4.   

Donors also receive a limited-edition t-shirt after logging their donation in Abbott and The Big Ten Conference’s “We Give Blood” competition. The Big Ten school that drives the most blood donations during the campaign will receive a $1 million grant from Abbott to advance student or community health.

Area hospitals are counting on us to fill many available appointments. Schedule a donation today by visiting communityblood.org, using the CBC Donor App or calling (800) 280-4102.

About The Community Blood Center 

The Community Blood Center was established in 1955 and continues today as an independent nonprofit providing a safe and reliable blood supply to hospitals in the Midwest. CBC has donor centers in Wisconsin (Appleton, Little Chute, Woodruff, Wausau and Green Bay) and Illinois (Chicago). CBC hosts more than 100 blood drives every month. The Community Blood Center is a member of America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and Blood Centers of America (BCA) which are networks of independent community-based, not-for-profit blood centers supporting the blood needs for approximately 60% of the United States.

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