LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Christopher Hughes decided to give blood in August for the first time in nearly two decades, the only motivation he needed was a little convenience, a recommendation from his doctor and the knowledge that he would be saving local lives. Hughes’ decision to make his second lifetime donation and his first since a drive at his high school in 2007 has landed him the ultimate thank you from Kentucky Blood Center: He’s the happy recipient of free groceries for a year. 

On Tuesday, Hughes received 52 $200 gift cards to Kroger as the winner of KBC’s fourth and final “Summer of Saving” giveaway. Hughes and other donors were automatically entered into the giveaways throughout the summer months as a thank you for boosting the blood supply. During the summer promotion, KBC awarded a Louisville woman with free movie tickets for a year in May, a donor from Winchester with free gas for a year in June and a loyal donor from Bardstown with free Texas Roadhouse for a year in July. 

Hughes made his winning donation Aug. 19 at the McCreary County Community Blood Drive at the South Kentucky Regional Emergency Communications Center in Whitley City. After getting some recent high blood pressure under control, Hughes’ primary physician recommended that blood donation would be good for his health. With that advice, the ability to donate again and the knowledge of the good it would do for the community, Hughes decided to donate on a whim when he saw the drive taking place at his work. 

Like most donors, walking away with a thank you item was not why Hughes donated, but it has turned out to be a nice reward for Hughes and his family. The family of four plans to put the cards to good use at the Whitley City Kroger. 

“I didn’t know about the giveaway,” Hughes said. “I didn’t even know I could get a shirt. I was just donating to donate, not even realizing I could win something. Now that I could donate, seeing they were at my work, I just thought it was the right thing to do.” 

KBC offers small thank you items and promotions throughout the year as a token of appreciation, the latest of which was the Summer of Saving giveaway. KBC, a nonprofit, relies on donors to provide lifesaving blood products to more than 70 hospitals in Kentucky. Blood cannot be manufactured, meaning the health of the blood supply falls on the generosity of donors like Hughes. 

Thanks to Hughes and others, blood will be available to the one in four people in Kentucky who will need a blood transfusion in their lifetime.

“I donated not wanting or expecting anything,” Hughes said. “It’s just nice to know you’re helping someone in the community.”

KBC has eight donor centers in six cities and hosts nearly 2,300 mobile drives a year in more than 90 counties. Interested donors can click the links below, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522 to view hours, locations and schedule an appointment. Mobile drives 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.