United Blood Services face increase demand for Hurricane Harvey Victims

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Hattiesburg United Blood services and Jaycees teamed up Thursday to host the annual Labor of Love Blood Drive.

UBS officials said during the Labor day holiday, blood donations typically decline. However, this year Hurricane Harvey's devastation in Texas has caused a high demand increase for blood supply.

"We were open here...with the Jaycees cooking some hamburgers to say thank you to donors. We’re open through the weekend, also on Labor Day from seven a.m. til two p.m. So if you're type ‘o’ we need you to come in and make a red blood cell donation," said Katie Martin, Donor Recruitment Supervisor.

Donors must be at lease 16 years old, weigh at lease 110 pounds to participate. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger, and donors who are 16 and 17 must have a signed permission slip from a parent or guardian.