SHREVEPORT, La. — LifeShare Blood Center will host its annual United We Give campaign from July 1-3, 2026, aiming to boost blood donations during a period that typically sees seasonal declines.
The three-day initiative is designed to offset a drop in donations that can reach nearly 20% during the summer months, when travel, school breaks, and changing routines reduce donor participation. The campaign will take place at all LifeShare donor centers and mobile blood drives, except in Baton Rouge.
Eligible donors who give blood, platelets, or plasma during the campaign will receive a limited-edition T-shirt and a $25 gift card. The organization said the incentives are intended to encourage participation while maintaining adequate blood supply levels for regional healthcare providers.
Demand for blood remains steady throughout the year, driven by ongoing medical needs such as cancer treatments, surgeries, trauma care, and chronic illness management. Summer months can also bring an increase in accidents and injuries, further straining supply levels.
“Blood donation is one of the few acts that truly brings people together,” said Mandi Johnson, director of community engagement at LifeShare Blood Center. “Every blood donor shares a common purpose: helping someone they may never meet.”
The 2026 campaign coincides with the United States’ 250th anniversary, with LifeShare positioning the initiative as a reflection of community-focused values such as volunteerism and shared responsibility.
LifeShare said a single blood donation can help up to three patients. The organization encourages appointments but will accept walk-in donors during the campaign period.
Founded in 1942, LifeShare Blood Center is a nonprofit blood collection agency serving Louisiana, East Texas, and South Arkansas. The organization supplies blood products to hospitals across the region and relies on volunteer donors to meet ongoing demand.