Mummert recognized for milestone number of blood donations

Special to The Clinton Courier

Clintonian Kent Mummert has donated over one hundred gallons of blood, impacting an estimated 2,400 lives across Mississippi.

Mississippi Blood Services (MBS) recently recognized longtime donor Kent Mummert of Clinton, who reached an extraordinary milestone on April 29, 2026 – his 802nd platelet donation, equating to more than one hundred gallons of blood products donated over the course of his lifetime.

Mummert began donating as a freshman at Mississippi College and has continued consistently for more than fifty years. What started as a simple decision to help others became a lifelong commitment to saving lives.

“It’s hard to say no when there’s a kid in the hospital who needs it,” said Mummert.

When he first began donating, the process was far more complex – even requiring a two-arm procedure. Today, Mummert says advances in technology have made donating safer, faster and more comfortable than ever, but his motivation has remained the same.

“You all know someone is having a ‘9/11’ day every day of the week,” Mummert shared with MBS staff. “We’re blessed to be a blessing. This is a way we can help others.”

Through his generosity, Mummert has donated more than eight hundred pints of blood products, impacting an estimated 2,400 lives across Mississippi. To put the achievement into perspective, the average adult has about eight to twelve pints of blood in their body. Mummert’s lifetime donations are enough to equal the total blood volume of approximately one hundred people.

Mummert continues to donate platelets every two weeks, supporting patients battling cancer, undergoing major surgeries and facing life-threatening conditions. MBS says that platelets are especially critical because they have a shelf life of just five days, creating a constant need for donors.

MBS reports that only about three percent of the U.S. population donates blood each year, despite an estimated sixty-two to sixty-five percent being eligible.

Mummert says he hopes his story inspires others to take action.

“Be part of that three percent,” he encourages. “You can be a real hero in someone’s life.”

MBS invites the community to join in celebrating Mummert’s milestone and encourages all eligible donors to give blood or platelets to help meet the ongoing needs of patients across the state.

To schedule an appointment or learn more, visit MSBlood.com, or call 601-368-2673. Additionally, walk-ins are always welcome.