Nebraska Community Blood Bank Celebrates Grand Opening with Community Leaders and Lifesaving Mission at the Center
OMAHA, NE (July 30, 2025) – Nebraska Community Blood Bank (NCBB) officially opened the doors to its new Eagle Run Donor Center on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting celebration that brought together city leaders, healthcare partners, blood recipients, and community members, all united by a shared mission to save lives.
The state-of-the-art facility, located at 13110 Birch Drive in Omaha, is NCBB’s latest effort to make blood donation more accessible, comfortable, and impactful for the community. Designed to support both whole blood and apheresis donations, including platelets vital for trauma victims, cancer patients, and surgical needs, the center expands NCBB’s capacity to serve local hospitals and patients year-round.
NCBB Executive Director Cheryl Warholoski welcomed attendees and underscored the significance of the opening:
“This donor center is not just about bricks and mortar — it’s about mission. It’s about strengthening our ability to respond quickly when hospitals call. It’s about building resiliency into our blood supply. It’s about establishing a welcoming, trusted place where donors can give generously and often.”
She also acknowledged the timing of the opening, as Nebraska and much of the country face a dangerous summer blood shortage, with some blood types at just a 1–2 day supply.
“That’s not just a statistic,” Warholoski said. “It’s a reality that puts local patients at risk every single day. We need community heroes to step up, and this center makes it easier than ever for folks across Omaha to do just that.”
Omaha Mayor John W. Ewing, Jr., and Dr. Michael Ash, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, joined the celebration, along with Rachel Idra, a local sickle cell patient and blood recipient who shared her personal story and the lifesaving impact of donation.
The Eagle Run Donor Center strengthens NCBB’s long-standing commitment to the region, which has included more than 56 years of service, delivering over 60,000 blood products annually to hospitals, EMS, and healthcare partners across Nebraska and western Iowa.
As part of New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), one of the largest nonprofit blood centers in the world, NCBB also contributes to a broader network dedicated to delivering lifesaving blood products, advanced medical services, and cutting-edge research across 17+ states.
“Together, we are saving lives — both here at home and beyond,” Warholoski said.
Donors can make an appointment at the Eagle Run Donor Center, or any of NCBB’s donation locations, at NCBB.org or call 877-486-9414. Every donation makes a difference.
