Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
Stewart’s Shops is once again treating Red Cross blood donors in Eastern New York to free pints of ice cream this June. “Give a Pint, Get a Pint” offers donors who give blood at blood drives in 20 counties* from June 1-30 a voucher for a free pint of Stewart’s Shop’s ice cream or gelato that can be redeemed at any Stewart’s Shops location.
Thanks in part to “Give a Pint, Get a Pint”, blood donations, area blood donations exceeded the monthly expectation by 30 percent last June: More than 6030 units of blood were donated, with all presenting donors receiving vouchers for a free pint of Stewart’s Shops ice cream or gelato.
“We are grateful Stewart’s Shops is once again supporting the Red Cross and helping us say ‘thank you’ to our donors who have such a big impact on the lives of patients in our region,” said Sonja Ronovech, district recruitment manager of the Red Cross New York-Penn Blood Services Region. “With many donors vacationing and schools that host blood drives on break, summer is an especially difficult time to collect enough blood donations to meet the needs of patients. We’re asking donors to commit to give in the weeks leading up to and during the summer to help alleviate this seasonal decline.”
“We were truly impressed with the tremendous number of blood donors who took the time to donate last June,” says Stewart’s Shops President, Gary Dake. “We are proud to partner with the Red Cross once again because saving lives deserves a thank you, and what better way for Stewart’s Shops to say that, than with ice cream.”
While the need for blood is constant during the summer months, the Red Cross experiences a drastic decline in new donors. Nationwide and in New York, about one-third fewer new donors came out to give last summer than during the rest of the year.
Blood is perishable and has a limited shelf life. Red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days and platelets just five days, so they must constantly be replenished. Those who need blood include accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.
*Stewart’s Shops “Give a Pint, Get a Pint” vouchers will be offered to blood donors presenting at blood drives in the following counties from June 1-30:
· Albany
· Clinton
· Columbia
· Dutchess
· Essex
· Franklin
· Fulton
· Greene
· Hamilton
· Montgomery
· Oneida
· Orange
· Putnam
· Rensselaer
· Saratoga
· Schenectady
· Schoharie
· Ulster
· Warren
· Washington
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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