Weekend blood drive at Sunrise Mall seeks to draw donors

Local gift shoppers have an opportunity to give a “heart-felt” gift this weekend, during BloodSource’s seasonal blood drive in the Sunrise Mall parking lot.

Teaming up with 98 Rock to offer a free t-shirt to donors, “Blood Mobiles” will be set up near the Elephant Bar parking lot in an effort to help infuse blood supplies during a customarily low donation season. The blood drive is scheduled for Friday from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“The holiday season typically sees a dip in blood donations, but the need for constant blood supply remains the same,” BloodSource Public Relations Manager Alexander Sigua previously told The Sentinel. He said the organization strives to draw an average of 700 pints of blood each day in order to meet the needs of patients across Northern and Central California.

Sigua cited a variety of reasons for the seasonal downturn, like potential donors’ minds being focused on holiday shopping and travel, but stressed it’s “critically important” for generous donors to roll up their sleeves this time of year to provide for those in need.

Last year’s Thanksgiving weekend blood drive drew around 550 donors, including 66 who had never donated before, according to Sigua.

In addition to blood drives, BloodSource regularly accepts donations at more than a dozen centers around the state, with the closest being in Fair Oaks. The Sacramento-based nonprofit helps provide blood to over 40 hospitals and 30 counties in Northern and Central California, according to its website.

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Flier: http://www.sunrisemallonline.com/event/bloodsource-blood-drive-at-sunrise-mall/2145460942