red cross issues urgent call for blood donors - Carolina Ale House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sherry Mitchell, 919-231-1607
Cell: 919-819-1973
RED CROSS ISSUES URGENT CALL FOR BLOOD DONORS
Carolina Ale House Partners to Encourage and Thank Blood Donors
RALEIGH/DURHAM—August 6, 2009—RALEIGH/DURHAM—August 6, 2009—The American Red Cross
urges individuals to donate blood as soon as possible at additional blood drives throughout the weekend. The current blood
supply has dropped critically low throughout the Southeast. On the following three Mondays in August, Carolina Ale House is
partnering with the American Red Cross to thank donors who give the gift of life.
On Monday, August 10 th , donors who give blood at the Durham Blood Center, 4737 University Dr, #3 University Pl,
Durham from 2pm–7pm will receive a catered meal by Carolina Ale House. Carolina Ale House will also cater blood dries at
the Cary Blood Center at 3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150 on Monday, Aug 17th and at the North Raleigh Blood Center at
8301 Bandford Way on August 24th .
In addition, Carolina Ale House is providing the following gifts to donors who give at all three Centers to thank them for
their incredible gift of life.
Pit Pass to visit the Carolina Ale House and receive a free Rootbeer or Coke Float with any food purchase.
When redeeming the Pit Pass, donors will be entered into a raffle to win the following prizes:
o Mini Nascar Hoods autographed by the Coke family of drivers (possible drivers include Greg Biffle, Tony
Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Kevin Harvick, etc.)
o A pair of NC State Football tickets
o A pair of UNC Basketball tickets
o A pair of Duke Basketball tickets
Prizes will be awarded at the end of the promotion (Sept.30, 2009)
In the summer, blood shortages often occur because individual donations decrease, along with the number of
organizations that are able to sponsor blood drives. The absence of high school and college blood drives also contributes to
this annual drop in donations because these drives account for approximately 20 percent of all donations.
“Collecting enough blood to meet hospitals’ needs during the summer is always a challenge,” stated Joyce Brendel,
interim chief executive officer, American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region. “This is especially true this year as
many donors are also dealing with business closings, lay-offs and other issues relating to our current economy. Unfortunately,
the need for blood doesn’t go away.”
Brendel added, “Patients are dependent on the Red Cross and volunteer blood donors to make sure blood is
available to patients in need. Without an immediate response from generous people in the community, our ability to provide
the needed blood will be limited.”
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Every two seconds someone in this country needs blood. That need for blood continues to grow each year far faster
than the number of individuals who donate blood. Currently only 38% of the population is eligible to donate and only a fraction
of those eligible actually do so. In the Carolinas Blood Services Region, the Red Cross must collect 1,600 units of blood each
weekday to meet the needs of hospital patients.
There is no substitute for blood, and the only source is from volunteer donors. Eligible blood donors must be at least
17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. Donors
with type O (positive and negative), B negative and A negative blood should consider an automated red cell donation, a
process in which only red cells are donated.
For more information or to schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or visit
redcrossblood.org. All eligible donors are urged to give blood at one of the following drives.
Friday, August 7
Cary Blood Center at Regency,3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150, Cary, NC 27518 Hours: 8:00 am-1:00 pm
North Raleigh Blood Donation Center 8301 Bandford Way, Raleigh, NC 27613 Hours: 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Dr, #3 University Pl, Durham, NC 27707 Hours: 8:00 am–12:30 pm
East Wake Academy, 400 NMC Dr., Zebulon 27597 Hours: 10:00am-2:30pm
Maria Parham Medical Center, 566 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson, NC 27536 Hours: 10am – 2:30pm
Saturday, August 8
Cary Blood Center at Regency,3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150, Cary, NC 27518 Hours: 7:30am-1:00pm
Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Dr, #3 University Pl, Durham, NC 27707 Hours: 8:00 am–1:00 pm
Living Word Family Church, 10520 Star Rd., Wake Forest 27587 Hours: 8:30am-1:00pm
Wendell Baptist Church, 3651 Wendell Blvd., Wendell 27591 Hours: 8:30am-12:30pm
Sunday, August 9
St. Raphael Catholic Church, 5801 Falls of Neuse Rd., Raleigh 27609 Hours: 10:30am-3:00pm
Millbrook United Methodist Church, 1712 E. Millbrook Rd., Raleigh 27609 Hours: 1:00pm-6:00pm
Monday, August 10
Cary Blood Center at Regency,3700 Regency Pkwy, Suite 150, Cary, NC 27518 Hours: 1:30 pm-7:00 pm
North Raleigh Blood Donation Center 8301 Bandford Way, Raleigh, NC 27613 Hours: 2:30pm-7:00pm
Raleigh Blood Donation Center, 100 N. Peartree Ln., Raleigh, NC 27610 Hours: 2:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Durham Blood Donation Center, 4737 University Dr, #3 University Pl, Durham, NC 27707 Hours: 2:00pm–7:00 pm
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