Blood Donors Urgently Needed This Week To Sustain Illinois Supply, Center Says

TINLEY PARK, IL — A blood donation center has issued an urgent call for donors, amid donation disruptions caused by weather conditions.

Winter weather across Illinois has temporarily disrupted blood drives, closed some donation centers, and reduced donor turnout, Versiti Blood Center said. While conditions are improving, the past week’s weather has affected the blood supply in Illinois. In this short period, numerous donation appointments were canceled due to weather and closures. Unfortunately, blood cannot be stockpiled, Versiti said. When donations pause, local patients still need care for surgeries, trauma responses, cancer treatments, and emergency transfusions.

This disruption is temporary. As weather conditions improve in Illinois, all Versiti centers and community blood drives will resume normal operations. Donating in the days ahead is an immediate way to help restore stability for hospitals and patients.

“We are grateful to our donors, coordinators, and Versiti teams who have adapted to recent weather challenges,” said Shelley Whitsey Mitchell, Senior Director of Blood Services, Versiti Blood Center of Illinois. “As conditions improve, a donation this week can support multiple patients. By showing up for one another, we help ensure continued care for Illinois communities.”

If you are healthy and able to donate, now is a powerful time to act:

• Keep your upcoming appointment if conditions are safe, reschedule visits that were canceled.
• Encourage others: Tell colleagues, friends, and family to give when travel allows.
• Safety always comes first: For our donors, our partners, and our teams.

Versiti is urgently seeking O-negative and O-positive blood donors. These universal types can be transfused to all patients, including trauma victims, cancer patients, and those undergoing surgery.

Platelets are also in constant demand for cancer patients, trauma survivors, and premature babies, and they remain viable for only five to seven days outside the body. Like blood, platelets cannot be manufactured.

Donor Center Locations:

• AURORA: 1200 N. Highland Ave.
• BLOOMINGDALE: 398 W. Army Trail Rd.
• CRYSTAL LAKE: 6296 Northwest Hwy.
• DEKALB: 2428 Sycamore Rd.
• ELGIN: 1140 N. McLean Blvd.
• GENEVA: 2000 W. State St., Unit 1E
• HIGHLAND: 2126 45th St.
• JOLIET: 2625 W. Jefferson St.
• NAPERVILLE: 1297 S. Naper Blvd.
• TINLEY PARK: 16100 Centennial Cir.
• WESTMONT: 6317 S. Fairview Ave.
• WINFIELD: 27W281 Geneva Rd.
• YORKVILLE: 728 E. Veterans Pkwy., Suite 112

Donating blood takes about an hour, with the actual donation itself taking 10 to 15 minutes. Anyone aged 17 years or older who is in good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors who are 16 years old. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are always welcome. To schedule an appointment, visit Versiti.org or call 877-232-4376.