As the nation faces a severe blood shortage, some students at Slippery Rock University are stepping up to make a difference.
According to a recent report published by the American Red Cross, the U.S. blood supply dropped a staggering 35% between late Dec. 2025 and Jan. 2026, creating a critical shortage. Hospitals across the country have struggled to maintain enough blood for transfusions, putting lives at risk. This includes trauma victims, mothers during childbirth and individuals battling cancer or sickle cell disease.
At Slippery Rock University, the Honors College has played a key role in addressing this issue by hosting one blood drive each semester in partnership with the American Red Cross. The most recent drive, held on Feb. 3, was organized by Honors College Community Service Chair, Katie Weiner, who has coordinated that last four drives.
Setting up a blood drive is more complex than it may seem. Weiner explained that the process begins with coordinating schedules months in advance.
Weiner stated how, prior to being in her current position, she was given the contact information of the American Red Cross area coordinator in the county. Every fall semester since, Weiner has been tasked with reaching out and scheduling the blood drive.
“We usually schedule both the fall and the spring one at the same time. [The coordinator] normally sends me a couple dates, because it’s harder to work around their schedule, and I see when the theater is available in this building.” Weiner explained.
From there, preparation becomes a detailed and sometimes tedious process. Weiner described the importance of ensuring the space meets Red Cross requirements, including maintaining a specific room temperature and completing a checklist before the day of the drive.
“It’s a lot of buildup on our end, and then check-ins on her end while we are recruiting donors…making sure the room is ready, her sending me like the checklist of things that need to be in the room, the temperature the room needs to be.” Weiner stated.
Most donors at SRU drives are students, though some community members also participate, often filling morning appointment slots after receiving notifications through the Red Cross donor system.
Weiner described working with the American Red Cross as a smooth and flexible partnership. She said the organization is appreciative of SRU’s ability to consistently fill donation slots, which has helped to build trust over time. Because of that, she is given more independence to promote the drives and manage outreach on campus, while still maintaining communication and providing updates as needed.
“They give me access to their portal so I can see as people are signing up and the appointment slots we need,” Weiner said. “I can send the official Red Cross donation email to all of our past donors. So it’s a lot of communication until the day of.”
This year, the national blood shortage has directly impacted the scale of SRU’s drives. In response, the Red Cross increased the number of available donation slots from about 60 to 75.
“I was a little bit worried because it was a quick turnaround from winter break,” Weiner said. “But after lots of emails, we ended up filling all the slots and getting more blood than we originally set as a goal.”
The need for donations remains urgent. The Red Cross reports that high flu activity across the country has reduced the number of available donors, making it harder to rebuild blood inventories. Certain blood types, including O, A-negative and B-negative, are especially in demand, as O-negative is considered the universal donor.
“They are short on blood right now and there’s not much they can do about that other than host blood drives,” Weiner explained. “They can’t just take blood from people. So it has to be someone choosing to spend a couple minutes of their day, eat a cookie afterwards and donate their blood.”
She explained that one of the most meaningful aspects of the blood drives is the personal connection donors can feel to their contribution. Through the sign-up app, donors are able to see exactly which hospital will receive their blood, making the experience more tangible and impactful. While she acknowledged that it may seem small, she emphasized that this feature helps students feel more directly connected to the lives they are helping save.
For students who may be hesitant, Weiner emphasized how simple and impactful the process can be.
“It is a really easy way to donate something,” she said. “You make your blood again. It is something you can donate that is so helpful to other people and can actually change their lives, save their lives…it takes 15, 30 minutes of your day, and you can do it a lot. You don’t have to do it once and then you’re done. You do it once, you wait a couple months, you do it again.”
According to the Red Cross, eligible donors must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. Donors must also bring identification, such as a driver’s license or donor card, to their appointment.
For many students, the opportunity to directly help patients adds a personal connection to the experience.
As the shortage continues, SRU’s blood drives highlight the role that college communities can play in addressing a national crisis. With each filled appointment slot, students are helping ensure that lifesaving blood is available to those who need it most.
