Community Blood Center to Mark 'World Blood Donor Day' Thursday

(Springfield, MO) -- Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is inviting donors and friends to help celebrate World Blood Donor Day this Thursday.

On June 14, CBCO will join thousands of blood centers across the globe to raise awareness about the need for blood and to inspire action to give blood.

The celebration will kick off at 11 a.m. at the center's headquarters at the corner of Campbell and Plainview road.

Here is the schedule of activities:
11 a.m. Registration. Participants will receive a free red t-shirt and a supply of Nexcare bandages with a special World Blood Donor Day theme.
11:30 a.m. - Participants, all wearing red, will form a giant human blood drop on the north parking lot.
11:40 a.m. - Everyone is invited to a free BBQ lunch, open house tours of the blood center and, of course, to give blood during a special blood drive from 11 am to 6 pm.

During summer months, CBCO says the area's blood supply comes under strain for a variety of reasons. It's currently under a Code Yellow Alert for all negative blood types, as well as Type O Positive.

CBCO says it takes around 275 blood donations each day to meet the needs of local patients.

To find out how easy it is to save lives in the Ozarks, call 1-800-280-5337.