‘Tis the Season for Holiday Heroes Dec. 16, 2019

LEXINGTON, Ky. – December 16, 2019 – While many are preparing for the upcoming holidays by planning time with family and friends, there aren’t many people taking time to donate blood during the season. The need for blood doesn’t take a holiday break and there is sometimes an increased need for blood transfusions in December. 

Blood is needed for surgeries, cancer treatments, premature births and  to help accident victims throughout the year, and December and January are no exception. Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) is encouraging those who are eligible to donate to give blood soon and is offering a special thank you to these holiday heroes. KBC will give two movie passes for a local cinema to those who register to give blood at a KBC donor center Monday through Dec. 31.

“We hope to encourage people to take a little time during the holidays to help local patients by donating blood,” said Martha Osborne, Vice President of Marketing for KBC. “In a short amount of time, you can save three lives and then treat yourself to a night at the movies. Movie tickets also make a great holiday gift for those left on your shopping list.”

Kentucky Blood Center, a local, nonprofit organization, supplies blood to more than 70 Kentucky hospitals, giving donors the chance to save the life of someone nearby with their donation.

Movie passes are available for donors until Tuesday, December 31 at all KBC donor centers. Lexington and Louisville donors will receive passes good at any Cinemark cinema. Pikeville donor passes are for Riverfill10 Cinemas, while Somerset donors can use their passes at Somerset Cinemas 8.

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. KBC donor centers will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.