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H-E-B Challenge Blood Drive
Name: H-E-B Challenge Blood DriveDate: June 25, 2018Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM CDTEvent Description:This summer marks the 15th annual “H-E-B Challenge” blood drive in central Texas. The grocery chain prioritizes blood donation in the summer to help boost donations when collections are at one of their lowest periods. H-E-B began the community partnership with Carter BloodCare in 2002, when the company sponsored the first large-scale, companywide, multi-location blood drive event. The blood drive is hosted at various H-E-B locations in central Texas and this year’s dates for the two-week Challenge are Saturday, June 23 through Sunday, July 8.
“More than 20 percent of Carter BloodCare’s annual collections come from high school blood drives and that is a significant reason why blood collections in the summer can suffer,” said Linda Goelzer, director, Carter BloodCare public relations. “We really appreciate H-E-B’s partnership because it energizes the community to recognize the ongoing and growing necessity for blood; and at the convenience of a trip to the grocery store.”
This summer, employees of the participating central Texas H-E-B stores will again challenge each other to entice the most blood donors, in the series of onsite blood drives. The store with the highest ratio of donors versus partners (employees) receives a traveling trophy; this helps equal the playing field between small and large stores. The store that accumulates the most units of blood from their drive is also awarded a trophy. In addition, the Carter BloodCare Central Texas staff hosts an ice cream social for the H-E-B employees of the two winning stores. Mexia H-E-B is the reigning 2017 champion for the highest percentage of donor participation, with 22 percent. Wooded Acres H-E-B in Waco won 2017’s contest for the greatest number of donations accrued, with 52 units.
Potential blood donors may volunteer beginning at age 16 with parental consent; 17-year-olds may give independently and there is no upper age limit for giving blood. All donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, feel well on the day of donation and present a government-issued photo ID each time they give blood. It’s also a good idea to eat a nutritious meal and drink plenty of water before giving blood. For more information on donor eligibility and to make an appointment, call 1-800-366-2834 or visit carterbloodcare.org.