KBC Needs Blood Donations to Beat Gators and Slam Winter Shortage
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Blood Center is hoping to get people’s competitive juices flowing and counteract an ongoing winter blood shortage with next week’s Big Blue Slam, the annual blood battle between Wildcat fans and Florida Gator fans. The 12th annual competition is Monday through Friday, Jan. 20-24, at all Kentucky Blood Center donor centers and blood drives, and comes at a critical time for the nonprofit blood center as sickness and weather have caused blood drive cancelations and left the blood supply suffering.
“We always look forward to this friendly competition with our partner blood center in Florida, and this year’s Big Blue Slam comes at a time when transfusions are outpacing donations locally,” said Martha Osborne, Kentucky Blood Center’s Vice President of Marketing. “We know Big Blue fans love beating Florida on and off the court and we hope it’s that competitive spirit that will help us boost the winter blood supply.”
Kentucky won the competition in 2019 and took a 6-5 lead in the series between KBC and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers in Gainesville. Big Blue Slam was created to encourage blood donation during the winter months, when weather and illness can hamper collections.
Donate Blood, Get a Slam Shirt
As a thank you for saving a life, Kentucky donors will receive this limited-edition vintage look Big Blue Slam T-shirt.
Donors may give at any KBC mobile blood drive or donor center. KBC donor centers, which will be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday during Slam week, are listed below.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.
Walk-ins are welcome. To schedule a donation or find other donation locations, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522.
Slam the Gators!
Beaumont Donor Center
Phone: 859.276.2534
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Schedule an appointment or call 800.775.2522
Andover Donor Center
Phone: 859.327.3223
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Schedule an appointment or call 800.775.2522
Middletown Donor Center
Phone: 502.290.0537
Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Schedule an appointment or call 800.775.2522
Hillview Donor Center
Phone: 502.915.0989
Hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Schedule an appointment or call 800.775.2522
Pikeville Donor Center
Phone: 606.432.4979
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Schedule an appointment or call 800.775.2522
Somerset Donor Center
Phone: 606.679.7413
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Schedule an appointment or call 800.775.2522