Jennifer Campbell of Vitalant appeared on air to discuss the region’s current supply status and recent donation efforts. While recent pop-up and mall blood drives yielded a strong turnout—including 147 donors, 138 pints collected, and 34 first-time donors at a three-day event at West Acres—the overall blood supply remains at a critical level. The Red Cross is currently appealing for donations during its second-lowest summer supply level in history, sitting at roughly a half-day blood supply compared to the standard five-day target. “That’s when surgeries have to be canceled and decisions have to be made of who deserves this blood right now,” Campbell said. She added that secondary supply sources, such as open-market blood center organizations, are also depleted, leaving blood banks with limited options to supplement their inventory.