Rise & Shine 2021 event poster from the Sioux Falls Community Blood Bank.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Ken Versteeg, executive director of the Community Blood Bank of Sioux Falls, visits with KELO.com News’ news director Todd Epp about the current blood shortage and the upcoming Rise and Shine donation event on July 30, 2021.
The drive runs from 6:30 to 11 a.m. at Camille’s Sidewalk Café. There will be free t-shirts, breakfast, and snacks for those who donate. The first 50 donators will receive movie tickets.
Versteeg says one or two big traffic accidents could put the area’s blood supply into a critical shortage over the next few days.
He says the blood bank is about 25% down from where donations typically are during this time of the summer.
It is pent-up elective surgeries and people being sicker than normal from delaying procedures that have helped to cause the current shortage.
KELO Radio, Camille’s Sidewalk Café, and the South Dakota Pork Producers sponsor Friday’s event. Click here for more information.
Versteeg says the bloodmobile will accept walk-in donations, but you may need to wait 15-20 minutes.
Click here to listen to the interview with Versteeg on the blood shortage and details on the Rise and Shine event.
