KANSAS CITY – Community Blood Center (CBC) is teaming up with the Kansas City Royals to encourage local residents to give blood by offering donors a choice between a free t-shirt or a voucher redeemable for two tickets to a select 2023 Royals home game. The promotion will be available to everyone who makes a blood donation between Sunday, June 25th and Sunday, July 9th at any of CBC’s 7 donor centers. Blood donors at mobile blood drives will also be eligible for two single-game tickets for a select 2023 Royals home game.
The Kansas City Royals have been a longtime supporter of CBC, partnering during Royals Week for more than 20 years and encouraging blood donation during some of the most critical times for the blood supply. The summer months are always difficult for the blood supply, especially around the 4th of July holiday weekend, when school breaks and summer travel plans make blood donation less of a priority.
The Greater Kansas City area continues to experience a chronic blood shortage that has persisted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. All blood types are currently needed, but type O and platelet donations are in especially high demand. Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors to receive life-saving blood products, but donations still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
“We are so grateful to the Kansas City Royals for always stepping up to the plate to encourage blood donations, especially during the summer months, which are a critical time for the blood supply,” said Patsy Shipley, Vice President at Community Blood Center. “We’re calling on all eligible blood donors, especially our youth donors, to come out and support the home team by donating blood and giving the gift of life this week.”
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted eligibility restrictions for individuals who lived in
Europe during certain periods of time. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit savealifenow.org or call 800.688.0900.
To make an appointment near you, donors can visit www.savealifenow.org or by calling 1.877.468.6844.