Blood Donors Encouraged to Give Food Items Too
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky blood donors are very generous. Throughout the year they give of themselves, helping to save lives. During the holiday season, though, Kentucky Blood Center donors are being asked to give something else. But this gift doesn’t involve needles!
Kentucky Blood Center is partnering with God’s Pantry in Lexington and Somerset to promote canned food donations for families in need from Dec. 1 through Jan. 9. In Lexington, KBC will also be a drop-off point for the Lexington Fraternal of Firefighters Toy Program through Dec. 13.
All donors and the public are invited to bring in non-perishable food items to help fill the shelves of the local food banks. Collection barrels will be located at Kentucky Blood Center Donor Centers at 3121 Beaumont Centre Circle in Lexington and at 120 S. Highway 27 in Somerset.
Items always in need are canned fruits, vegetables and meats, peanut butter, boxed pastas, snacks, cereals, baby food and formula, and paper products, such as napkins and toilet paper.
In Lexington, donors may also drop off new, unwrapped toys appropriate for children up to 10-years-old. Stuffed animals, dolls, action figures, learning toys, puzzles, books, hand-held games, remote control or battery-operated toys and bicycles are always popular.
Donors may make an appointment to give blood by visiting www.kybloodcenter.org or by calling 800-775-2522.
The Kentucky Blood Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring a safe, adequate blood supply for patients at nearly 70 Kentucky hospitals and clinics in more than 60 counties. In the past year KBC processed and distributed 82,000 red blood cell units and 127,000 blood components in total.