Legion blood donations continue to rise

Last year, The American Legion Blood Donor Program exceeded 92,000 units collected, a 15-year high. According to the newest American Legion Consolidated Post Report – recording local performance in a number of areas of the organization between June 1 and May 31, 2023 – collections are still soaring.

With 8,292 of the Legion’s 12,267 local posts submitting their year-end reports, 102,013 units of blood were collected from 60,702 donors.

The American Legion Blood Donor Program originated in 1942 when members were asked to give blood locally to fulfill domestic needs as much-needed plasma was shipped overseas to supply U.S. military troops in World War II.

Over the years, The American Legion grew to become the nation’s top organizational donor of blood for the Red Cross.