Hundreds of Chapel Hill community members lined up at the Dean E. Smith Center on Wednesday — not for any athletic event, but to donate blood.

The 35th annual Carolina Blood Drive set up their operations in the basketball arena once again, this time a month earlier than normal in an attempt to boost student participation. The event is run by UNC’s Employee Forum in partnership with the American Red Cross.

“Carolina has a deep commitment to our community and for 35 years, the Carolina Blood Drive has supported students, faculty and staff in the critical effort of blood donations during the spring and summer months,” said Laura Pratt, a fellowship programs coordinator at The Graduate School, and a co-chair of the blood drive’s planning committee. “Through a simple act, blood donors make a powerful difference for patients and their families.”

Ahead of the event, the Red Cross estimated that around 700 blood donors would be needed to stabilize local bloody supply, which is critical for emergencies and treatment for patients. While the event fell short of that goal, it surpassed its 2021 and 2022 numbers. Carolina Blood Drive organizers said 575 donors contributed 556 units of blood on Wednesday, compared to the 2022 drive’s 510 units from 515 donors. The 2020 blood drive, despite being in the height of shutdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to hold the event record and was the largest single-day drive in the country for the year.

More than 110 volunteers also helped the blood drive run smoothly this year, according to organizers.

The American Red Cross says the spring and summer are still critical times for blood donations, as most people are not able to give based on summer plans or traveling. To find where to donate blood, visit the American Red Cross’ search page or call the nonprofit at 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). UNC is expected to host its next large-scale blood drive again this winter for its annual Holiday Blood Drive.

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