Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, a stark statistical reality that drives hospitals across the country to maintain a delicate balance between supply and patient demand. Trauma victims, cancer patients, and mothers experiencing childbirth complications rely on a steady inventory that is constantly under pressure from ongoing regional shortages.
To confront this ongoing deficit directly, Omaha is preparing to mobilize a community-wide donation effort. On October 30, Mayor John W. Ewing Jr. will officially proclaim the date as We Give Blood Day in the city, marking a central local milestone in the broader Big Ten We Give Blood campaign sponsored by Abbott.
Proclamations and Morning Programs at UNMC
The municipal push officially begins at 10 a.m. at the UNMC Wigton Heritage Center, where Mayor Ewing will read his official proclamation. The morning program brings together key academic and regional healthcare leadership to emphasize the gravity of the supply challenge. Taking part in the scheduled events will be UNMC Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD, along with Cheryl Warholoski, executive director of operations for the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, and Josh Murray, regional communications director of the American Red Cross.
“Every blood donation has the potential to save lives. By proclaiming We Give Blood Day, we are inviting Omaha residents to turn our community’s generosity into action,” Mayor Ewing stated. “Every donation matters, and together we can make a meaningful difference for patients who depend on a reliable blood supply.”
Where to Donate Across Omaha on October 30
Omaha-area residents looking to participate have multiple dedicated donation sites available throughout the day, operating through partnerships with both the American Red Cross and the Nebraska Community Blood Bank.
- Burke High School, 12220 Burke Blvd., 7:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. (American Red Cross)
- Terracon, 15080 A Circle, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (American Red Cross)
- Ralston High School, 8969 Park Drive, Ralston, 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (American Red Cross)
- Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Nebraska Community Blood Bank)
- Nebraska Community Blood Bank operations at UNO’s Criss Library, 6401 University Drive Road, running from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
In addition to these mobile and community site drives, donors can visit established permanent donation centers across the city on October 30:
- Nebraska Community Blood Bank, 12100 Pacific St., 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Nebraska Community Blood Bank, 13110 Birch Drive #134, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- American Red Cross Blood Donation Center located at 3838 Dewey Ave., known as The Dewey, open 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- The West Omaha American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, 729 N. 132nd St., 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Big Ten Universities Compete for Grant Money
The local drives feed into a multi-state initiative. All 18 Big Ten universities are currently locked in a friendly competition to inspire nationwide donations, with every contribution made between August 12 and December 4 earning points for participating states. Donors can register any contribution made at a participating center by texting GIVEBLOOD to 222688 (ABBOTT) or by visiting bigten.org/abbott/.
This competitive framework yields tangible rewards for community health. In 2024, the University of Nebraska won the inaugural competition, securing a $1 million grant from Abbott to fund student and community health initiatives.
“Donating is one of the most meaningful gifts we can give, helping save lives and supporting people as they recover,” Dr. Davies noted. “Generosity runs deep in Omaha and across Nebraska, and donating blood is one more way we can care for the people around us. It is a small act that can have an extraordinary impact.”
University of Nebraska System President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, emphasized the historical willingness of state residents to meet critical needs. By rolling up their sleeves, participants directly strengthen an inventory facing mounting demographic pressures.
Demographic Pressures on the National Blood Supply
The urgency behind these localized drives is rooted in profound national consumption patterns and demographic shifts. Pediatric patients require an average of 1,800 units of blood every single day, while cancer treatments consume roughly 25% of the entire United States blood supply. Statistics show that approximately 1 in 83 mothers require a blood transfusion following childbirth.
Simultaneously, the traditional donor base is aging. With approximately 2.5 million blood donors currently over the age of 65, recruiting a younger generation of contributors has become an urgent operational necessity for blood banks.
Last year’s campaign demonstrated the potential of targeted mobilization, helping save as many as 250,000 lives nationwide. Nearly one-third of participating students donated blood for the first time during the drive, and 96% of those first-time contributors reported that they planned to donate again.
“The need for blood never takes a day off,” said Lisa Kuska, regional donor services executive for the Red Cross of Nebraska and Iowa. “We Give Blood Day reminds us that a single act of generosity can have a lasting impact.”
