Blood Drive to Address Shortage

The summer is notorious for low levels of blood donations and this year has been no exception. Local officials are hoping to boost donations with a blood drive tomorrow at from 11:30 am to 4:30 p.m.

"Blood donations throughout the region are down tremendously and as the only provider of blood to hospitals like , we’re doing everything we can to try to boost donations," said Blood Assurance Representative Lacey Wilson. "We also have a donor center in Cartersville across from the hospital, right next to . Although we’ve been supplying the hospital for years now, our donor center is fairly new and not very many people know about it."

As the regional blood provider, nonprofit Blood Assurance is the only source of blood donations for more than 50 hospitals and health care facilities. It is the sole provider of blood products to .

Blood Assurance officials say a harsh winter followed by April tornadoes and the summer months when there are fewer blood drives affected the blood supply.

Those wishing to donate who can't make it to Tuesday's blood drive should make an appointment online. Blood Assurance in Cartersville is located at 921 Joe Frank Harris Parkway.