Even though Christmas is tomorrow, there’s still time to give a life-saving gift — and treat yourself in the process. Two Ys in the Metro Detroit association, the Farmington YMCA and the North Oakland YMCA, are challenging each other in a Christmas Eve and New Years Eve blood drive for the Red Cross.
Blood supplies hit a critical low at this time of year, with the need increasing and donations dropping as people get busy with holiday obligations, go out of town, or just forget. The Y has partnered with the Red Cross for the last few years to sponsor blood drives during that week. After all, Y members tend to both be community minded and relatively healthy (and thus more likely to be good donors).
There are some pretty nice incentives available to people who donate, also. Kroger is donating a $25 gift card to every donor at the Christmas Eve blood drive — and there’s no limit to the number of gift cards a family can get, so if a family of four comes in and all four donate, that’s $100 in gift cards.
On New Year’s Eve, Dunkin’ Donuts is donating a sample pack to each donor which includes a voucher for a pound of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee beans. Buddy’s and the Detroit Pistons are also sponsoring the New Year’s Eve blood drive and every donor can choose between two Pistons tickets or a $25 Buddy’s gift card.
The Y is open 7 a.m. -1 p.m today and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. New Year’s Eve. To register, visit redcross.org/make-donation-sponsor or just come to the Y — walk-in appointments will be available.
The blood drives give the Y a chance to demonstrate their commitment to the community and make a difference, since each pint of blood donated can save up to three lives.
“It goes back to what our mission is,” says Demond Gilbert, customer relations manager for the North Oakland Y. “Anytime we have an opportunity to do something that helps people in a positive way, that’s a great thing for us.”