Free coffee and donuts for blood donors this January
South Carolinians who give blood in January could get free Dunkin Donuts. The national coffee chain is partnering with the American Red Cross by offering vouchers for a free iced coffee and donut to residents who donate blood and platelets with the Red Cross in the first month of the year.
“As the pandemic wears on into the New Year, blood donations remain essential to the health of our communities,” Shonette Sneed with the American Red Cross of the South Carolina Region said in a written statement. “Our collaboration with Dunkin’ allows us to thank our donors with a special gift this January and helps ensure blood products are available for patients.”
The company is offering 15,000 vouchers to South Carolina donors.
Residents don’t need to wait until the new year to get rewarded for giving blood, however. The Red Cross is giving free long-sleeved T-shirts to donors now through Jan. 2.
Blood donations are at a 10-year low nationally, according to the Red Cross, and this fall and winter has been particularly bad. Donations are down by 10% from this August, and in late September the national organization reported having “less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks.”
South Carolina’s Red Cross chapter, as well as local hospitals, have put out the call for more blood donations as well.
Those who would like to donate can schedule an appointment through the Red Cross blood donor app, online at redcrossblood.org, or by phone at 1-800-733-2767.
