By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – A major blood supplier to St. Louis has temporarily closed its doors. The Gateway Blood Association, which supplies blood to about 30 area hospitals, says it's more than a $1.5 million in debt.
The group is asking hospitals to help fund a bailout plan. For now, hospitals in Missouri under contract with Gateway will get blood from Davenport, Iowa. Illinois hospitals under contract are receiving blood from Springfield, Ill.
The company laid off 50 of its 60 workers this weekend. Gateway and the Red Cross are the two major blood suppliers for the St. Louis region.
Gateway's new CEO, Dr. William Miller, says Gateway had debt of more than $1.5 million and only about $500,000 in assets.