Starting Thursday, August 1st, all presenting blood donors will receive a voucher for a free beverage or ice cream treat
MINNESOTA – Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) is pleased to announce its third annual “Pint for a Pint” campaign to encourage blood donations during the critical late summer months. From Thursday, August 1st to Tuesday, September 10th, all presenting blood donors will receive a voucher redeemable for a free beverage or ice cream treat at a participating venue.
Thirteen breweries, pubs, and creameries are coming together to support the critical need for blood donations in the summertime by participating in this year’s “Pint for a Pint” campaign. The full list of participating establishments can be found here. All donor centers and most blood drives are participating in this initiative. Blood donors cannot redeem their vouchers on the day of their donation.
“Surly Gives A Damn (SGAD), and MBC have been partnering since 2010, and it feels as though the need for blood just continues to rise. It is important to us to give back and support our community,” said Mary Sellke, Executive Director at Surly Brewing Co. “When we host blood drives, we lift up and shed light on our non-profit partners and in turn help save lives in our community.”
“MN Nice Cream is excited to partner with Memorial Blood Centers for their Pint for a Pint Program this year!” said Brett Ley, Food Truck Operations Manager at MN Nice Cream. “My mom was a regular blood donor and took the time to teach me the importance of doing things to help those around us. We’re happy to offer ice cream as a small thank you to folks in our community for taking the time to do something that can and will literally save a life.”
August is a historically challenging time for the blood supply as summer travel, school breaks, and seasonal gatherings make blood donation less of a priority. MBC recently issued an urgent call for type O+ and O- blood donations as the current inventory of type O blood is the lowest it’s been since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. This dangerous shortage is impacting local hospitals and is part of a disturbing national trend, with type O shortages reported across the U.S.
“Memorial Blood Centers is grateful for the generosity of our local breweries, pubs, and creameries for supporting us each year by raising awareness and donating beverages,” said Kathy Geist, Vice President at Memorial Blood Centers. “The ‘Pint for a Pint’ campaign is a favorite of many of our blood donors and we hope this fun incentive will inspire folks to make an appointment to give the gift of life this summer, support their favorite local businesses, and beat the summer heat with a refreshing pint or ice cream treat!”
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit mbc.org or call 1.888.448.3253.
To make an appointment at a blood drive near you, donors can visit mbc.org/pint
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About Memorial Blood CentersFounded in 1948, Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) celebrates over 75 Years of Lifesaving Research, Innovation and Impact. MBC relies on the local community to donate blood to help ensure a safe and stable blood supply is available to area hospitals and other partners. With operations in Minnesota and Wisconsin, MBC is a Division of New York Blood Center, Inc. (a family of operating Divisions known as New York Blood Center Enterprises), serving communities across the country. For more information, visit mbc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
