![]() “Those who lived through World War II and had experience with the Red Cross, they are passing away, and they were very dedicated to blood donations,” said Angela Powley, regional executive for blood services over the greater Carolinas region for the American Red Cross.Ībout 60 percent of donations come from those older than 40, according to the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies. In January, donors have a chance to win a trip for two to the Super Bowl that includes pre-game activities, roundtrip airfare, three nights in a hotel and $500 for expenses.Įven before the pandemic, blood centers faced a shrinking donor pool, largely because many regular donors are aging out. The American Red Cross, which supplies 40 percent of the country’s blood, distributed $10 Amazon gift cards through its “Give a gift.Or, if you give through a special promotion drive, you could earn prizes such as two free movie tickets, a ticket to see a local light show or a burger at Red Robin (with the purchase of a beverage). ![]() OneBlood, which provides blood to Atrium Health and other local hospitals, is offering December donors a $20 e-gift card and a plush blanket.December donors also have a chance to win a 5-night stay at a South Carolina beach condo (“A $2,300 value!”) or one of three $500 Airbnb gift cards. The Blood Connection, which services 120 hospitals in the Carolinas and Georgia, offered the $50 e-gift card bonus – on top of its standard $10 thank you gift – twice in December.The Facebook advertisement from Charlotte-based The Blood Connection offering entry into a raffle for a beach vacation. Those strategies include generous “thank you gifts” and the chance to win big prizes. But with the number of donors dwindling, blood centers across North Carolina –- and across the country – are trying new strategies to get people to open their veins. Traditionally, blood centers have steered away from paying for donations, in part because of Food and Drug Administration rules. “Sometimes we get into hard situations where we are low on inventory, and if we add things like that, we’ll see people come in.” “We lost a lot of blood donors during the pandemic, and we haven’t gained as many back,” said The Blood Connection spokeswoman Katie Smithson. While we were glad to be saving lives, what drew us there that day was the $50 e-gift card we could use at retailers including Target, Amazon and Walmart. “BONUS $50!!! BLOOD DRIVE URGENT NEED!!” screamed the subject line.įor a 16-year-old who is often short on cash, it was an enticing offer.Ī few hours later, we were lounging in recliners in a mobile bus, IVs in our arms, as we each donated a pint. Last month, my daughter Rosie got an urgent email from The Blood Connection, one of three organizations that collect blood in Charlotte. Lessons from Abroad: How Europeans have tackled opioid addiction and what the U.S.Storm stories – NC Health News works with teens from SE North Carolina to tell their hurricane experiences.Unequal Treatment: Mental health parity in North Carolina. ![]()
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