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The American Red Cross will extend free COVID-19 antibody testing for anybody who donates blood into January.
The national nonprofit has been offering the testing since June and originally intended to end the practice Oct. 15.
However, because of donations received from the public, the organization will continue the program through Jan. 15, said Abigail Anderson, executive director of the American Red Cross for Central and Northern Missouri.
Locally, the Missouri Veterans Commission contributed $25,000 to continue the program. The United Way of Central Missouri announced earlier this month that it too was providing a grant of $10,000 to continue the program.
"It was a national initiative," Anderson said. "The longer we can extend that, the more knowledgeable we'll get about COVID-19."
The extension is nationwide, she continued.
The Red Cross is receiving demographic information about the coronavirus and providing that to state health departments, she said.
The information does not include names, addresses or other personal information from the donors, Anderson said.
"It is a broad overview of those results," she said.
Otherwise, the Red Cross has seen an uptick in donations, she said.
"A lot of people have been coming out to help because they know how important blood supplies are for our local hospitals right now," Anderson said.
Each year, as students return to the University of Missouri, the American Red Cross holds one of the largest blood drives in the nation. However, that won't happen this year because social-distancing rules in Columbia prevent gatherings of more than 20 people on university grounds, Anderson said.
"That's about 1,100 units for the month of October (that won't be collected)," she said. "Which is a huge, huge loss. We'll be seeing some Mizzou alumni satellite drives in Jefferson City in the next couple of months."
Folks may give blood about anytime, excluding Thursdays. Visit redcrossblood.org to schedule a donation at the Jefferson City Blood Donation Center, 3230 Emerald Lane.
Schedules for other blood drives are also on the site. There will be opportunities to give blood Friday at the Truman Building. And donors may give blood at the Elks Lodge 513, 901 Ellis Blvd., on Monday, and St. Andrew Catholic Church in Holts Summit on Wednesday. Check the site for available times for each.
Capital West Christian Church, 1315 Fairgrounds Road, and the Samuel F. Gearhart Detachment Marine Corps Building, 4925 Business 50 West, are scheduled for blood drives Sept. 8. Check the site for available times.
The American Red Cross continues serving communities affected by disasters. Local volunteers are on-site at the Gulf Coast to set up shelters and assist victims of Hurricane Laura, Anderson said.
Volunteers were placed about a week and a half ago, she said, while others have chosen to deploy virtually.
More volunteers are urgently needed this hurricane season and to assist with wildfires out west. Visit redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer/urgent-need-for-volunteers.html to learn more.