5Upper IntermediateGeneralHealth

Chicago Blood Drive Highlights Need for Diverse Donors

A new medical clinic in Chicago hosted its first community blood drive to attract more diverse donors. The event, organized by the American Red Cross and Northwestern Medicine, aims to help patients with sickle cell disease who need closely matched blood to survive.

1 min readLevel 5March 31, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

diverse

/daɪˈvɜːrs/

adjective

Including many different types of people or things

“The city has a diverse population with people from many countries.”

donor

/ˈdoʊnər/

noun

A person who gives something, such as blood or money, to help others

“Every blood donor can help save up to three lives.”

chronic

/ˈkrɒnɪk/

adjective

Lasting for a long time, especially describing an illness that cannot be easily cured

“Living with a chronic illness requires regular visits to the doctor.”

essential

/ɪˈsenʃəl/

adjective

Completely necessary; something you cannot do without

“Clean water is essential for good health.”

overcome

/ˌoʊvərˈkʌm/

verb

To succeed in dealing with a problem or feeling that has been stopping you

“She managed to overcome her fear of flying by taking short trips.”

impact

/ˈɪmpækt/

noun

A powerful effect that something has on a situation or person

“The new policy had a positive impact on the local community.”

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Article

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On Monday, the American Red Cross and Northwestern Medicine held a special event. It was the first community blood drive at a new clinic in Chicago. The drive took place at the Northwestern Medicine Bronzeville Outpatient Center. Organizers said the event was designed to build a more diverse donor pool.

Donated blood is essential for surgery, cancer treatment, and trauma care. It is also critical for people living with chronic illnesses like sickle cell disease. This condition affects about 100,000 people in the United States. More than 90 percent of those with sickle cell disease are Black.

Tammy Winchester from the American Red Cross explained the urgent need. She said there are not enough diverse donors in the country right now. Some people avoid donating because of fear of needles or lack of information. However, Winchester believes the need for blood should overcome those fears.

Kimbra Bell, the clinic's director, emphasized the impact of each donation. She said community members who donate blood are quite literally saving lives. If more people from diverse backgrounds donated regularly, patients would receive better matches. Building a diverse blood supply is essential for the future of healthcare.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
Where did the first community blood drive take place?
2
What percentage of sickle cell disease patients in the U.S. are Black?
3
What is one reason some people choose not to donate blood?
4
Why is a diverse donor pool important for treating sickle cell disease?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
What organizations partnered to hold the blood drive in Bronzeville?
2
Why is a diverse blood donor pool especially important for sickle cell patients?
3
According to the article, what are some reasons people avoid donating blood?
4
How many people in the United States are affected by sickle cell disease?
5
What did Kimbra Bell say about the effect of blood donations on the community?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
Have you ever donated blood? If so, what was the experience like?
2
What do you think communities could do to encourage more people to donate blood?
3
Are there any fears or concerns that might stop you from donating blood?
4
How important do you think it is for hospitals to have a diverse blood supply?
5
If you could organize a health event in your community, what would it be and why?