Kentucky Blood Center ‘in critical need’ of donations: What you can win by giving

LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) — According to the Kentucky Blood Center (KBC), the demand for blood hasn’t slowed down at hospitals across the state, and there is a critical shortage of type O blood leading up to Memorial Day weekend.

“Blood donations drop across the country every summer, despite traumas increasing and blood demand remaining constant at local hospitals,” said Mandy Brajuha, KBC’s vice president for external relations. “KBC looks for creative ways to motivate donors each summer and this year is no different.”

Blood center staff asked the community to step up in a press release on Thursday, announcing the Summer of Saving giveaway with yearlong prizes, along with the chance to save a life by donating while blood supplies are critically low.

Here’s what the summer giveaway includes:

• May 23-31: All donors will be entered to win 104 movie tickets (two per week for a year) to a theater in the winning donor’s region
• June 1-30: Donors will be entered to win 52 $50 Marathon gift cards, and every donor will receive a coupon for a buy-one-get-one-free slice of pizza from Clark’s Pump-N-Shop
• July 1-31: Anyone who donates will be entered to win 52 $40 Texas Roadhouse gift cards, and every donor will receive a coupon for a free Texas Roadhouse appetizer
• Aug. 1-31: All donors will be entered to win 52 $200 Kroger gift cards

How often can I donate, and how many prizes can I win?

KBC officials said donors can give blood every 56 days and platelets every 14 days. This allows those who give to enter the raffle for multiple grand prizes.

“Blood collected at KBC saves the lives of patients in Kentucky who require products for surgeries, diseases like cancer, traumas, organ transplants, premature births and so much more,” officials wrote. “Kentucky Blood Center, through the generous donation of blood from donors, provides lifesaving blood products to more than 70 hospitals in Kentucky.”

Where can I donate?

The following KBC blood centers are participating in the summer giveaway:

• Beaumont Donor Center
• Andover Donor Center
• Middletown Donor Center
• Pikeville Donor Center
• Hillview Donor Center
• Somerset Donor Center
• Frankfort Donor Center
• Tri-County Donor Center

To find a mobile KBC drive near you, click here.

According to giveaway organizers, blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good general health, and meet additional requirements.