Across the country, blood donations from people under 25 have dropped by more than a third in the last two decades — a troubling trend that has only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted high school and college blood drives. With fewer young people building the habit of donating, the future of the blood supply is at risk.
That’s why voices like Sophie Trainor’s matter so much. Sophie, a recent graduate of St. Teresa’s Academy in Kansas City and now a freshman at the University of Denver, began donating blood at 16 and quickly became a “Gallon Grad” before heading off to college. Inspired by her family’s long tradition of donating and volunteering with Community Blood Center, Sophie sees blood donation as a responsibility her generation can’t afford to ignore.
In a powerful op-ed published in The Kansas City Star, Sophie shares her personal journey as a young donor, the lifesaving importance of blood donation, and a heartfelt call to action for her peers: step up, donate, and ensure that blood is there when patients in Kansas City and beyond need it most.
Read Sophie’s full piece in The Kansas City Star: Young people aren’t donating blood. Step up and save Kansas City lives | Opinion
