Starting Tuesday, August 1st, each donor will receive a voucher for a free or discounted beverage
NEW YORK – New York Blood Center (NYBC) is kicking off its second annual “Pint for Pint” campaign on Tuesday, August 1st. As a part of this campaign, all presenting blood donors will receive a voucher to redeem a free or discounted beverage at their local participating establishment through Sunday, September 10.
The program has doubled in size and more than 60 establishments are participating in the initiative across the region; you can find a full list of NYBC’s partners here. All donor centers and most blood drives are participating in this initiative. Blood donors cannot redeem their voucher on the day of their donation.
The annual campaign seeks to motivate blood donors to come out in the summer months as August is a historically challenging time for the blood supply as schools are closed and families go on vacation. Unfortunately, blood donations in the region have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels as fewer schools, businesses and organizations are hosting blood drives. Currently, the blood supply stands at a 3-4-day level, with type O- especially needed.
“The ‘Pint for Pint’ campaign began when New York’s restaurant industry was suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic and despite their hardships, breweries supported New York Blood Center by donating beverages to get more New Yorkers to donate blood,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President of New York Blood Center. “We were grateful for their support then and we continue to be in awe of their generosity today. We urge donors to take advantage of this fun summer campaign that allows them to save lives and support local businesses.”
“Pints for Pints is a lifesaving cause, that Captain Lawrence Brewing is thrilled to get the opportunity to support. Some causes require your sweat and tears, but Pints for Pints is one cause that we’re willing to bleed for, because New York Blood Center is absolutely saving lives. Captain Lawrence Brewing is always eager to support worthy causes, and it’s doubly important, when those causes are saving lives for so many people with different needs, across so many diverse communities,” said Megan Vaccaro, Philanthropy and Outreach at Captain Lawrence Brewing.
“We think it’s such a great cause that we offer a Pint for a Pint all year long!” said Martin Whelan, Owner of Stout NYC Hospitality Group.
“There is always something to give; even when you don’t have a cent in your pocket you can help. That is the way I have always thought and that is why I donated blood. Whenever a local blood drive popped up, if I was eligible, I rolled up my sleeve and gave a pint. Time and time again I donated; even sitting a little longer to donate plasma at local drives when asked. Never did it cross my mind that, one day, the pints of blood and plasma I freely gave would be given back to me. When I was waiting for a life-saving liver transplant, besides my faith and love of family, the one thing that kept me alive was blood transfusions. My blood, the blood that saved others for decades, was now being poisoned by my liver. It was the transfusions of blood, blood from perfect strangers who gave 20 minutes of their day never knowing who it would go to, that was now saving my life. In a few close calls, it was the freezing plasma transferred into my veins that kept me alive long enough to hear the news that an angel on earth was willing to be a living organ donor and a transplant surgery was a go. 8 years later, I (and my donor) are healthy and I am making the most of this second lease on life! From opening our bar Geordie’s Joint with my loving wife of 40 years, Tricia, to enjoying vacations with our grandsons, it was strangers’ blood that kept me alive long enough to become healthy again to live my best years yet! While I am no longer able to donate blood myself, hosting a blood drive at our bar- and potentially helping to bring in numerous pints of precious, life-saving blood to people we will never meet – is a full circle moment for me and my family that I am grateful for beyond words,” said George Robinson Owner & Operator of Geordie’s Joint Woodhaven, NY.
To make an appointment at a blood drive near you, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org/pint. Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting ‘NYBC’ to ‘20222’ to give $25.
