APPLETON/FOX CITIES, JANUARY 2 – If you have an appetite for doing good, the Community Blood Center is asking you to roll up your sleeves and come forward. January is National Blood Donor Month, which recognizes the importance of the volunteer blood donor program and the impact blood donors have on their communities. As a special thank you, The Community Blood Center and locally owned GingeRootz Asian Grille are partnering to give away complimentary appetizers. Donors at the Community Blood Center’s Appleton, Little Chute, or Oshkosh Donor Center and Bloodmobiles between January 3 – 11 will receive a coupon for a free order of Crabmeat Rangoons at GingeRootz, 2920 N. Ballard Road in Appleton.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for minority and women-run businesses like GingeRootz Asian Grille to help raise awareness about the importance of donating blood. GingeRootz has been known throughout the Fox Cities for their delicious food. Their menu includes dishes from China, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and other Pacific Rim countries, ” said Xai Lawrence of the Community Blood Center. “With the support of GingeRootz, we hope to see our inventory levels increase so we can continue to provide reliable, high quality blood products and services in the communities we serve,” she added.
While donations are needed around the clock to help accident victims, premature babies, organ transplant recipients, and cancer patients, the Community Blood Center faces collection challenges. Shortages this time of year are typically due to inclement weather, road conditions, and seasonal illnesses. The flu has hit communities especially hard this season, and that means more healthy volunteers are needed to donate immediately to help ensure adequate blood products are on the shelves for the 18 area hospitals served.
Donated red blood cells must be used within 42 days of collection. Platelets within 5 days. Plasma can be frozen for up to 1 year. Individuals with serious injuries from a major automobile accident can require 50 units (pints) of blood or more. Seriously burned patients can require 20 units or more. The components of one pint of donated blood can help save the lives of three people.
The Community Blood Center is a non-profit organization that has worked with generous blood donors to provide a steady, reliable blood supply for hospital patients for over 50 years. Volunteers who donate blood support the local blood supply at 18 hospitals in Wisconsin and Michigan. Partnerships are created with community groups, schools, churches, and businesses to hold over 125 blood drives each month. Donor centers are located in Appleton, Little Chute, Oshkosh, and Woodruff. Appointments may be made online at http://www.communityblood.org or by calling 800-280-4102.
