LIFESERVE BLOOD CENTER WANTS DONORS TO SHOW WHAT COLOR THEY BLEED ON SEPTEMBER 10 -11

JOHNSTON, IOWA (Sept 3, 2026) – Each year the state of Iowa picks a side for one week leading up to the Iowa–Iowa State football game. Rivalries form between coworkers, friends and families. Half wearing black and the other half wearing cardinal. This year, LifeServe Blood Center is encouraging donors to wear their team’s colors while donating blood on September 10 and 11 at any Iowa LifeServe donor center, showing that no matter who you support in this rivalry, we all bleed the same color.

Even though schools are back in session and vacations are coming to an end, this is still a difficult time for the local blood supply, after a summer of decreased blood donations nationwide. Labor Day weekend is still a common time off for families, and some feel it is the last opportunity for warm-weather activities. This causes donations to take a dip, while the need from local hospitals remains constant.

So LifeServe wants this year’s Iowa-Iowa State football game to inspire blood donors that even though Iowans may find themselves on opposite sides during gamedays, afterwards they are still neighbors and we need to support each other. As a thank you, LifeServe is giving away limited-edition gameday “What Color Do You Bleed” shirts to all donors at their Iowa donor centers featuring both teams’ colors.

“Unfortunately, hospital patients in need of lifesaving blood don’t get a holiday or vacation, so our job is to ensure we are supplying enough blood to local hospitals to treat people in need, as soon as they need it,” said Tim Paluch, LifeServe PR & Marketing Director. “The blood supply is not just a LifeServe issue, or a medical issue – it’s truly a community issue that impacts us all. And right now, we need the community to step up and donate lifesaving blood. ”

Support your team and your local hospital today by going to lifeservebloodcenter.org Add specific page to see shirtor by calling 800.287.4903 to schedule your donation. Shirts will be available at each donor center at the time of your donation.