Bardstown Donor Wins Free Texas Roadhouse for a Year
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Blood Center’s “Summer of Saving” – an effort to save donors cash as a thank you for boosting the summer blood supply – will conclude in August with the promotion’s final grand prize: One lucky donor who gives blood this month will win free groceries for a year.
The August winner will receive 52 $200 gift cards to Kroger (or a grocery store determined by KBC in the donor’s area). Donors are automatically entered simply by donating blood at any of KBC’s conveniently located eight donor centers or at one of the hundreds of mobile blood drives taking place this month across the state. Specific locations and hours can be found in the grid below.
The grocery giveaway is the fourth and final grand prize of the summer promotion. Angela Torres from Louisville (Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Service Blood Drive) won movie tickets for a year in May, Philip Morgan of Winchester (Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Blood Drive) was the winner of free gas for a year awarded in June, and Bernard Batcheldor from Bardstown is the lucky recipient of the free Texas Roadhouse for a Year giveaway. Batcheldor’s winning donation was made July 15 at the Hillview Donor Center in Louisville.
Batcheldor started giving with KBC in 2019 out of a desire to give locally. All blood donated with KBC stays in Kentucky to serve more than 70 local hospitals. He has made 35 donations of whole blood in that period by giving every two months (donors can give whole blood every 56 days).
Prior to winning, Batcheldor already had plans to take his wife to Texas Roadhouse for her birthday on Aug. 5. Coincidentally, KBC delivered the 52 $40 gift cards to him that afternoon to foot the bill. With the remaining 51 gift cards, Batcheldor said he plans on sharing with his nine kids.
Although only a lucky few win the Summer of Saving monthly prizes, all donors walk away with something in hand at KBC as a thank you for saving lives. KBC has featured gift cards during historically low turnout periods throughout the summer, plus all donors receive a KBC shirt (“Stay Peachy” T-shirt in August). With the ability to donate whole blood every 56 days and platelets every 14 days, donors have had the opportunity to donate multiple times during the Summer of Saving giveaway and earn eligibility for multiple grand prizes.
Whether it’s the motivation of promotions like the Summer of Saving, the desire to save local lives or a combination of the two, donors who give during the summer play a critical role in the health of the blood supply. Blood donations historically dwindle during the summer because of warm-weather activities, family vacations and no school, but the need for blood doesn’t take a break, and oftentimes transfusion levels increase during trauma season.
Blood collected at KBC saves the lives of patients in Kentucky who require products for surgeries, diseases like cancer, traumas, organ transplants, premature births and so much more.
All KBC locations are participating in the Summer of Saving. Donor centers, listed below, are open throughout the week and each center’s hours can be found by clicking on the links below. KBC also hosts approximately 2,000 mobile drives a year in more than 90 counties. Interested donors can visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522 to schedule an appointment. Mobile drive locations can be found at my.kybloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/county. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good general 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.
