Starting Thursday, August 1st, all presenting blood donors will receive a voucher for a free beer
RHODE ISLAND– Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) is pleased to announce its sixth 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 for a free beer at a participating local brewery or pub.
Eleven establishments 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.
“As a company, we’re really excited to have been hosting RIBC’s bus regularly and are even more excited to participate in Pint for a Pint! We’re always looking to give back in any way we can, and what’s a better way to help our neighbors than to help save some lives? A hefty thank you to RIBC as well for hosting the Pint for a Pint drive; folks are nuts about the RI Brewery scene, and it’s a great drive for a great cause,” said Casey Wright, Taproom Manager for Foolproof Brewery.
“We are proud to be a part of the Rhode Island Blood Center drive, supporting our community in a meaningful way. While we offer a voucher for a refreshing beer as an incentive, it pales in comparison to the life-saving donations made by our incredible customers. Together, we can make a difference and ensure a healthier future for all,” said Michelle Clark, Brand Manager for Grey Sail Brewing of Rhode Island.
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. RIBC 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.
“Rhode Island Blood Center is grateful for the generosity of our local breweries and pubs for supporting us each year by raising awareness and donating beverages,” said Caitlin Grimaldi-Flick, Marketing and Communications Manager at Rhode Island Blood Center. “The ‘Pint for a Pint’ campaign is a favorite of many of our blood donors and we hope this fun incentive will inspire Rhode Islanders 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 of their favorite beverage!”
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 or make an appointment, visit ribc.org or call 401.453.8383.
To make an appointment at a blood drive near you, donors can visit ribc.org/pint
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About Rhode Island Blood Center
Founded in 1979, Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) celebrates 45 Years of Extraordinary Lifesaving Research, Innovation and Impact. RIBC is the primary supplier of blood and blood products to patients being cared for in hospitals throughout Rhode Island and in neighboring states. Our mission is to help save lives by ensuring a safe, plentiful, and cost-effective blood supply. RIBC is also part of the National Marrow Donor Program and collects stem cells for transplant at its Providence location. RIBC provides therapeutic treatments for patients in local hospitals and our state-of-the-art laboratory performs donor testing for over 400,000 donations per year. RIBC is also involved in a variety of local and national research programs in an effort to improve all aspects of the blood supply. RIBC is a Division of New York Blood Center, Inc. (a family of operating Divisions known as New York Blood Center Enterprises). For more information, visit ribc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.