BEATRICE - Generous individuals of southeast Nebraska joined together to help those in need and hopefully subside a nationwide shortage.

On Wednesday, the American Red Cross held a blood drive at the Holiday Inn in Beatrice with the help of over 30 volunteers. Karen Probst is an organizer for the drive.

“The blood drive comes to Beatrice every other month,” Probst said. “It’s usually about 150 units per drive.”

But Probst says that figure could be surpassed this time around, noting they had 185 appointments. By 1:30 in the afternoon, they had already had about 100 participants. This is good news for the Red Cross as the nation is facing a major blood shortage brought on by the pandemic.

“COVID has made a big impact. Even now, we have people who cancel because they were exposed or they have COVID,” Probst said. “That’s our biggest problem.”

Even though the pandemic began in March of 2020, the new variants have made it hard to recover, most recently the Omicron variant.

“For awhile, when we were doing free antibody tests, people came in more,” Probst said. “But, we don’t do that anymore so that’s why we need it.”

Probst says local blood drives such as this one are important because hospitals always need it. However, she’s uncertain the shortage will ever end.

“I’m doubtful it’s ever going to,” Probst said. “We have people who have given blood for years who have passed on or are unable to donate anymore, we do get new donors, but we’ve had some lifelong donors who have donated 20-30 gallons.”

For those willing to help out, the next blood drive is set for the 23rd and 24th of February.