Blood Assurance will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day blood drive on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 at all of the organization’s donor center facilities. All participating donors will receive a customized St.
Patrick’s Day t-shirt and will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Walmart gift card, as well as a gift card from restaurants being given away at the following centers:
Hair of the Dog Pub: Chattanooga center
Beast and Barrel: Fort Oglethorpe center
Zaxby’s: Dalton center
Fox and Hound: East Brainerd center
The Honest Pint: Hixson center
Provino’s Italian Restaurant: Rome center
With numerous blood drives and donor appointments cancelled due to last month's weather conditions, there has been a dramatic drop in blood donations. The community is experiencing an urgent need for O- and O+ blood donors. Blood Assurance invites all “lucky” donors to consider making a donation that will save three lives across the region.
“Over 540 volunteer blood donors are needed every day in order to adequately supply the 75 healthcare facilities where each donation is sent,” said Charlie Callari, vice president of marketing and donor recruitment for Blood Assurance, Inc. “The need for blood is always constant, and we are extremely grateful to all of our donors who help meet this need within their communities.”
Blood Assurance operates their lab with an increased level of efficiency in testing, giving them the ability to get blood donations to markets more quickly. The organization’s donations stay local, but, when local supplies are insufficient to meet needs, Blood Assurance has a network of 15 regional donation centers and 13 mobile centers available to help.
“We invite everyone to visit one of our donor centers this St. Patrick’s Day and are excited to give away some Irish themed prizes to show our appreciation to our donors,” said Adam Ellsworth, Northeast region marketing and donor recruitment manager for Blood Assurance. “Every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs blood. We encourage the community to help meet this need and make a donation which will help save three lives in their community.”
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids - avoiding caffeine - and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. For questions about donating blood, please call (423) 756-0966.