Flowood, MS – January 19, 2026 — Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) is proud to continue and refresh its annual donor loyalty programs for 2026: the Universal Donor Program and the Power Red Program. These programs recognize the extraordinary impact of O-Negative and B-Negative blood donors across Mississippi.
Only 7% of the population has O-Negative blood, and just 2% has B-Negative blood, making these donors a small but incredibly powerful group. O-Negative blood is known as the universal blood type and is often used in emergencies when a patient’s blood type is unknown. B-Negative red cells are the second rarest blood type and can be given to patients with B-Negative, B-Positive, AB-Negative, and AB-Positive blood types—creating a strong reliance on a consistent and committed donor base.
Because of their rarity and versatility, these blood types play a critical role in saving lives every day in hospitals across the state.
“Donors with O-Negative and B-Negative blood types make an outsized impact on patient care,” said Kasey Dickson, Director of Public Relations and Donor Resources at MBS. “These loyalty programs are our way of recognizing how essential their continued commitment is to our community’s blood supply.”
Beginning January 1, 2026, eligible donors will start their loyalty journey with their first donation of the year, receiving a blood-type-specific Loyalty Card along with a Visa® gift card as a thank-you. As donors continue donating whole blood or double red cells throughout the year, they will unlock additional rewards and exclusive loyalty gear, with incentives increasing alongside their lifesaving impact.
The Universal Donor Program is available exclusively to O-Negative donors, while the Power Red Program is designed specifically for B-Negative donors. Together, these programs encourage repeat donations, strengthen Mississippi’s blood supply, and celebrate the donors who help make it possible.
Full program details are available online:
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Universal Donor 2026 Program: msblood.com/universal-donor-program
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Power Red 2026 Program: msblood.com/power-red-program
Be a Hero in Your Community — Host a Blood Drive
Bring the gift of life to your neighborhood, workplace, school, or place of worship. Hosting a blood drive is a meaningful way to support local hospitals and save lives. Call (888) 90-BLOOD or visit msblood.com/host-a-blood-drive to get started.
