COLUMBUS - On Wednesday, Columbus-area residents showed up to the American Red Cross's blood drive at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

“I was available again from eight weeks to donate again and so it’s just a good opportunity to give back,” donor Abby Pollart said.

Account manager Kyle Jensen said he oversees Red Cross operations in Boone, Antelope, Colfax, Dodge and Platte counties, and that they're in urgent need of blood at this time.

He said since the pandemic, the Red Cross nationally saw a plunge in donations.

“When COVID came on, obviously, that’s been kind of another factor as we’ve canceled quite a few blood drives the past months," Jensen said.  "I think our number -- the last number I saw -- was about 40,000 blood drives canceled, and that would’ve collected about 800,000 units.”

Jensen said the need for blood is so great at this time, that just within the last week, his area has held 14 different drives.  He said seven were in Columbus alone.

He said each donation can potentially save up to three lives, and that there's always a need.

“You don’t know what’s going to happen day by day," Jensen said.  "Cancer patients, trauma, accidents that happen, there’s always that need.”

He said it's safe to donate blood at this time, but that the Red Cross is still taking precautions.

“We’re taking temperatures, requiring people to wear masks, wiping down items in between donors to kind of keep it safe that way.”

Even if the idea of being stuck with a needle is unpleasant, one donor News Channel Nebraska talked to said just give it a try.

“It feels good to help out, especially knowing that they’re really low right now," Pollart said.  "It’s a pretty good feeling to help out however you can.”

You can register to give blood online by visiting: https://www.redcrossblood.org/