DULUTH â Amid the ongoing challenges of recruiting blood donors during the COVID-19 pandemic, local nonprofit Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) is facing a shortage of blood and platelet donations. The need for blood is constant, but due to the pandemic, many drives have been canceled or postponed. To replenish supplies for the Northland’s hospitals, trauma centers, and air ambulance bases, more healthy donors are needed at blood drives and donor centers in the coming weeks. Appointments can be made online at MBC.ORG or by calling 1-888-GIVE-BLD (888-448-3253). Before COVID-19, donors could stop by community blood drives at convenient locations like high schools, colleges, offices, and places of worship. It has been nearly one year since these groups had to cancel their blood drives due to COVID-19, and fewer than 50% have been able to resume these life-saving events. Despite this tremendous decrease in blood drives and blood donations, patients in community hospitals continue to need transfusions.