Published by Kirby Winn on Monday, January 26, 2026 in News Releases
Frigid cold, snow, and ice has caused ImpactLife to lose at least 550 donations to canceled blood drives, closed Donor Centers, and missed appointments over the past week. While the biggest impact was in the St. Louis region over the weekend -- where all ImpactLife locations were closed on Sunday -- recent weather has altered blood donation plans across the blood center's four-state service region.
In addition to keeping up with patient needs in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, there is potential for ImpactLife to be asked to support blood inventory needs in the south, southeast, and eastern seaboard after significant snow and ice disrupted travel in much of the U.S. over the weekend. ImpactLife is asking donors to step forward to help recoup recent losses and build blood inventory so the blood center is able to assist, as needed, regions hit hardest by Winter Storm Fern.
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Donors can book their appointment online or by calling (800) 747-5401, by texting LIFESAVER to 999-777 or via the ImpactLife mobile app(www.bloodcenter.org/app).
Severe winter weather can lead to widespread cancelation of blood drives, missed appointments, and other challenges affecting the blood supply. A challenging cold and flu season is another factor that disrupts plans for blood donation this time of year. Blood providers in the U.S. work together through organizations like the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC) to provide mutual assistance in the event additional units of blood are needed to meet patient need in regions hit hardest by severe weather. Learn about previous BERC activations and resource sharing due to extreme weather.
Put Good Into the World through Good Giving
Under ImpactLife's Donor For Life program, blood donors receive a voucher to redeem for their choice of an electronic gift card, bonus points to use in the ImpactLife Donor Rewards Store, or an equivalent value donation to support a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Reward values are based on donor frequency. See www.bloodcenter.org/donorforlife for complete information on current donor promotions and the Good Giving initiative.
Bonus Weeks and Drawing:
- Jan. 19 - Feb. 1, eligible donors will receive a $20 e-gift card bonus (or 1000 bonus points) in addition to regular gift values. This means a minimum of $40 gift card value for all non-deferred, whole blood and double red cell donations given at an ImpactLife donor center.
- Jan. 22-28, donors can give blood (all locations) and enter the drawing from their ImpactLife donor account in the Rewards Store for a chance to win Apple AirPods 4 wireless headphones.
About ImpactLife
ImpactLife's mission is to save lives by engaging donors, supporting partners, and advancing medicine. Founded in 1974, ImpactLife supplies blood products and services to more than 130 hospitals, emergency services organizations, clinical researchers, and other blood centers throughout Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The nonprofit blood provider is ranked among the leading 12 blood suppliers in the United States. For more information on current blood inventory levels, our donor promotions, and more, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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