Low blood supply opens opportunity to ‘Love Like Abi’

The Williams family picture, before the tragic loss of Abi Williams. A shortage in blood supply opens up the door for donors at the upcoming blood drive on Sept. 30, 2026. Photo supplied

By Lois Mittino Gray

For the second time ever in its history, the American Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis after blood donations fell to a four-year summer low and the national supply of type O positive blood dropped below a single day’s worth. It happened on July 27, 2026, with the only other time being in January, 2022. Even though the situation has improved somewhat in August, according to regional publicity spokesperson Janie Bohlmann, there are still shortfalls and she pleads for donors, especially Type O.

The organization dangles a lure of a $20.00 gift card from Amazon if a donation is made by August 31, 2026. The Red Cross says just three more donors at each blood drive this summer can end this crisis.

Several forces converged at once to cause the crisis to occur. The Red Cross has pointed to extreme heat, poor air quality with so many wildfires, and foodborne illness keeping donors away, alongside the usual summer pattern of vacations and paused school blood drives.

The Red Cross supplies nearly 40 percent of our nation’s blood, distributing to more than 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers, and needing roughly 13,000 blood donations and 3,000 platelet donations every single day to keep pace. During the July shortage, hospital distributions ran nearly 3,500 units per week above what the Red Cross had projected.

Blood Type O is the pressure point. It accounts for about 60 percent of Red Cross distributions. Type O positive can be safely transfused to roughly 80% of patients, and Type O negative remains the universal product reached for when there is no time to type and crossmatch.

McKim’s IGA Manager Brian Williams is working hard to help abate the shortage by sponsoring another of his many blood drives in honor of his wife Abi, who passed away in January 2023 from breast cancer. The next Love Like Abi blood drive is scheduled for Wednesday, September 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church,

601 Main Street in Mount Vernon.

“Abi isn’t here to help save lives, but we can do it for her. My goal is to honor her 43rd birthday on that day with a community goal of filling all the available donation slots. Right now, 32 of about 130 spots are filled, and we need more heroes. Just one donation can save up to three lives. That means three families could have more time, more moments, more hope, because of you. Please, help me turn our own heartbreak into their hope. Help me keep Abi’s light shining bright,” he encouraged donors.

Many of the donors who sign up for Loves Like Abi are regulars who are there every year to honor her. “I’m all signed up and ready to go,” said Amanda Thompson, a first-grade teacher at West Elementary School. “I started donating ever since the year I had their son, Cooper, in my class. Now this year, I have his daughter. I’ll be there!”

Even though the $20.00 Amazon card offer only goes until the end of August, the American Red Cross is advertising “Get a $15 e-gift card when you give blood September 21 through October 18” as an appreciation gift.

What are the criteria to be eligible to give blood? A Whole Blood Donor must be at least 16 years old in most states and weigh at least 110 pounds. They must be in good health and feeling well. Donation frequency is every 56 days, up to 6 times a year.

An option is available to choose to give a Power Red donation, instead of whole blood. A Power Red donation is a more intense procedure that collects the red cells but returns most of the plasma and platelets to the donor. These donors must meet specific eligibility requirements and have type A Neg, B Neg, or O blood. This procedure’s donation frequency is every 112 days, up to 3 times/year. Male donors must be at least 17 years old in most states, at least 5’1” tall and weigh at least 130 pounds. Female donors must be at least 19 years old, at least 5’3” tall and weigh at least 150 pounds to donate Power Red.

“Every donation has the potential to help save lives, and we urgently need everyone who is eligible to make an appointment to give blood as soon as possible,” said Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services “We need to grow younger donors in the United States. We need to get 20-somethings and 30-somethings in the door.”

Persons wishing to donate to the Loves Like Abi drive may sign up online at RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), with type O donors especially urged to give.