FRESNO (KMJ) — The ‘Pint For A Pint’ blood drive is kicking off in the Central Valley and there are some sweet rewards out there for anyone wanting to help save someone’s life.
When we say sweet – we mean it literally. The sweet reward for donating a pint of blood at the Central California Blood Center either Friday July 31st or Saturday August 1st is a pint of ice cream.
“We have a great need for blood”, says President and CEO of the Blood Center Dean Eller. “People are traveling, schools out, there not in town, and we needed the blood supply bolstered up”.
The blood drive is now in its 28th year and when it began almost three decades ago it attracted 253 donors. This year they’re expecting close to 2000 donors.
“People are so active out in the community doing the things that they’re doing. We have to be prepared and ready with blood tested and on the shelf for when that emergency happens”.
He says giving blood is the greatest community service you can do and for those who might be a little uncertain about donating, Dean has these words of comfort.
“Yes, you can do it. In fact we want you to do it because we want you to see how easy it is to donate blood and what you’re going to do when you donate blood is either you’re going to save somebody’s life or you’re going to help prolong somebody’s life. Either way it’s a win not only for the patient but for their family”.
If you’d like to take part in the ‘Pint For A Pint’, the donation centers are all open between 9am and 6pm Friday July 31st and between 9am and 4pm Saturday August 1st.
The Fresno centers can be found at 4343 Herndon Ave, 1196 E. Shaw (Suite 102), and 1010 E. Perrin. There’s also a blood center in Visalia on 1515 S. Mooney Boulevard and a center in Clovis’ Sierra Vista mall at 1050 Shaw Avenue.
