Nonprofit Vitalant is urging all eligible blood donors to give in March to help patients amid a prolonged blood shortage, compounded by inclement weather. Cold, snow and other adverse weather conditions across the country canceled blood drives, preventing more than 1,300 donations to go uncollected in February alone.
Blood donors who donate with Vitalant in March will automatically be entered to win one of 2, $10,000 prepaid gift cards, to be used wherever accepted, enough to buy groceries for a year. In addition, all donors are invited to join Vitalant’s donor recognition program. With each donation, donors can receive points toward thank-you gifts redeemable online.
March is also Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month. Those living with disorders including Hemophilia and von Willebrand disease depend on blood donations for their treatments to alleviate chronic pain and uncontrollable bleeding. Donors of every blood type are critical to helping patients for both ongoing and emergency needs. Type O donors are especially needed since O-positive is the most common blood type and O-negative can help patients of all blood types.
Learn more and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Visit vitalant.org/marchgift for details on the prepaid gift card giveaway.