Nebraska Community Blood Bank urges Lincolnites to donate amid shortage

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Nebraska Community Blood Bank is offering T-shirts to encourage blood donations ahead of the Fourth of July.

From Wednesday until July 8, shirts will be provided to donors at blood bank locations across Lincoln.

Kari Lundeen, the blood bank’s marketing manager, said blood isn’t the only donation accepted.

“The need is great for platelet donations also, so outside of just donating blood cells, you may be a great candidate to donate platelets,” she said.

During the summer months, Lundeen said donations take a dip, but the blood bank is hoping to change that.

“This is just to encourage people who have never donated before,” she said.

The blood donation process is cyclical, starting with donors and ending with patients in local hospitals, Lundeen said.

“We’re in communication with our hospital partners every single day, and they are informed of what that supply looks like,” she said.