Announcements : American Red Cross Holiday Blood Drive Food Drive

“Blood Drive Food Drive” to be Held in Olean
Blood Donors Encouraged to Give The Perfect Gift

The American Red Cross Blood Services, New York-Penn Region is encouraging the Southern Tier community to give The Perfect Gift this holiday season. A “Blood Drive Food Drive” will be held on Monday, December 10, from Noon – 6pm at the Elks Lodge at 209 West State Street in Olean. The Red Cross will collect blood to help save the lives of hospital patients, and will also collect non-perishable food items that will be distributed to the Olean Food Pantry.

All presenting donors at the blood drive will receive a free holiday t-shirt and be entered to win a pair of tickets to see the Buffalo Bills game against the New York Jets on December 30. In addition, all donors will be entered for the grand prize drawing for a pair of roundtrip JetBlue airline tickets (some restrictions apply). There will also be a live WPIG radio broadcast at the blood drive.

During the holidays, everyone searches for the perfect gift. Is it the half off sale across town? Or maybe at the store that opens at 5 A.M.? The more money saved, the more there is to spend. Still, many of us struggle to find the perfect gift. The Red Cross reminds people that when you give from the heart, the answer is simple. The perfect gift – a lifesaving blood donation – costs nothing but about an hour of your time. By giving blood, donors give a hospital patient in need the most precious gift of all – life.

The Red Cross hopes all eligible blood donors can take time from their holiday festivities and donate blood at this year’s “Blood Drive Food Drive.” Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood; and the need for blood never takes a holiday. The New York-Penn Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to 120 hospitals and must have 1,200 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand. Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source. Now is the perfect time to show your support and give back to the Olean community, as Red Cross is the primary supplier of blood products and services to Olean General Hospital.

Eligible volunteer blood donors are asked to please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make appointments. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to give blood. Identification is required at the time of donation.