United Blood Services is offering a chance to win a dream vacation as an incentive to increase blood supplies this year.
Each year, blood donations become sparse during the summer. So far this year, the area is experiencing a 20 percent decline in donations, Donor Recruitment Supervisor Katie Martin said.
To help combat the shortage, the United Blood Services is entering all donors—over the age of 21—into a drawing to win a $6,000 vacation of the winner’s choice, a release from the organization states.
Those under 21-years-old will be entered to win a $500 Amazon gift card, the release states.
All June donors will also receive a complimentary T-shirt promoting the event, according to the release.
Martin encouraged participants to schedule an appointment ahead of time at bloodher.com or by calling 877-827-4376 to speed up the process.
Often, when potential donors see a blood drive, they keep driving, holding a “somebody else mentality” that others will stop and donate, Martin said. However, that mentality leads to a reduction in donations, she said.
On top of that, Martin said the top three reasons for not donating are fear, a perceived lack of convenience and no one ever asking them to.
Martin said all of their donations are safe and simple, donors are walked through the process from start to finish and are done in under an hour.
She encouraged all able donors to visit one of the three mobile donation centers next week, and bring a friend. Those who can’t donate are asked to spread the word to those who can.
United Blood Services is a supplier for both hospitals in Pearl River County and the organization relies on community drives to help supply those facilities, Martin said.
Blood drives will be held next week at various locations in Picayune, including:
-Tuesday at Bank Plus on Memorial Boulevard from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
-Wednesday at Highland Community Hospital from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
-Saturday at the Picayune National Guard Armory from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Martin also said United Blood Services is always looking for organizations, churches and businesses to host community blood drives during the summer and throughout the school year. Interested parties are asked to call her directly at 601-602-5968.