The Hoxworth Blood Center, connected to the University of Cincinnati, is rallying for one last push this year to meet their donation goals before the curtains close on 2025. According to a recent article published on the University of Cincinnati's news site, the center set a challenge earlier in January, urging donors to commit to at least two blood donations over the year. December presents the final opportunity for donors to step up, help save lives, and achieve the twice-a-year mark.
Incorporating the giving spirit of the holiday season, Hoxworth is not just asking for blood but also for toys. Donors who offer their blood at one of the seven Neighborhood Donor Centers or at selected mobile drives in December will receive a Hoxworth Hero backpack as thanks. "Winter is typically a time when blood donation declines due to the weather, cold and flu season, and people traveling for the holidays," said Dr. David Oh, director of Hoxworth Blood Center, in a statement obtained by the UC News channel. He further urges, "If people can find it in their hearts and their schedules to donate, we could avoid the winter slump and continue saving lives close to home."
Another layer to the center's outreach is the 'Kindness for Kids' toy drive, an initiative for the third consecutive year in partnership with Hamilton County Job & Family Services. This drive targets to bring a wave of joy to children in foster care during the holiday season. The aim for this year is ambitious: to uplift 2,100 kids with gifts and toys curated straight from an Amazon Wish List or donated directly at collection bins located at the Hoxworth centers from Dec. 7-14.
The Hoxworth Blood Center underscores the continuous need for blood donations, pointing out that over 400 donors a day are needed year-round to supply blood products to over 30 hospitals in the Greater Cincinnati area. With such stark numbers, the center's call to action is clear, local patients in these hospitals are relying on donors to step forward. "Local patients in local hospitals are counting on you to help them this season. Can you answer the call?" requests the center, according to UC News. To further ease the donor process, Hoxworth has introduced OrSense, an alternative to the standard finger-prick test, which they describe as a "thumb hug," to check for the donor’s hemoglobin levels. This innovation is aimed at simplifying yet enhancing the donor experience, a step firmly announced earlier this year and underscored in the recent call for donations.
