CBCO 30th Anniversary!

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is excited to announce that 2025 is our 30th anniversary of operations! We invite donors, blood drive partners, and the community at large to join us in celebrating all year long.  

You can expect special shoutouts, special events, and incredible rewards for donating blood this year! Take a look below to learn more about our history, who we are, and what to look forward to in 2025! 

Our Story

We’re proud of our growth and our future, but we know many in the community don’t know our story. Take a look at our history, our growth, and our future plans below: 

Our History

CBCO was founded in 1995 after the American Red Cross (ARC) made sweeping changes regarding how they would distribute blood to the Greater Ozarks Region. Twelve area-hospitals provided a $3.5 million dollar loan for start-up costs, and on September 18th, 1995, with the support of community leaders and our incredible blood donors, CBCO opened for operations.

Our Growth

When we initially opened, it was with 102 employees collecting blood at one donation center to serve 25 area hospitals. In our first year of operation, we collected 37,349 donations. 

Now, in 2025, we have grown to 175+ employees across four permanent donation centers, having collected over 56,000 donations in 2025.

Our Future

We’ve come a long way in 30 years, but we are also continuing to look forward to how we can grow and better serve our community. Here are some things we’re excited about bringing to our community in 2025! 

  • A newly-remodeled donor center location in Joplin! 
  • A new donor portal and donor store! 
  • New rewards and new promotions for our donors!

Our People

CBCO started with only 102 employees. After 30 years, we still have some of our original staff working here today! Take a moment to recognize and celebrate some of our founding employees! 

Our Blood Drive Groups

Throughout the year, we’ll highlight blood drive groups and partner sponsors that have been with us since the very beginning. Be sure to keep a lookout on Facebook and Instagram! 

Donate with CBCO in Our 30th Year!

We couldn’t have made it 30 years without our community, our partners, and most importantly of all, our blood donors. Your generosity has allowed us to serve the Greater Ozarks area and make an enormous impact on local patients and local hospitals.