As a thank you, all presenting donors will receive a t-shirt and be entered to win a $250 e-gift card to buy Boston baseball tickets.

RHODE ISLAND – Rhode Island Blood Center (RIBC) is encouraging local residents to give blood ahead of the critical Fourth of July weekend. All presenting donors will have an all-star experience and receive a t-shirt and be entered to win a $250 e-gift card to purchase Boston baseball tickets. The promotion runs Sunday, June 25th through Monday, July 10th at any of RIBC’s six donor centers as well as mobile blood drives. As a special bonus, those who present between Tuesday, July 4 and Monday, July 17 will have a chance to win tickets to see Post Malone at his show on July 22nd at the X-finity Center.

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. Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors to receive life-saving blood products, but blood donations still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

“We are grateful to our donors who step up to the plate and help in our mission during this critical time period”, said Caitlin Grimaldi-Flick, Marketing and Communications Manager for Rhode Island Blood Center. “It is pivotal that our community rallies together to help us build and maintain a stable blood supply. Every two seconds, someone is in need of blood and there is no substitute for this lifesaving product.”

Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give every two weeks. 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 ribc.org or call 800.688.0900.

To make an appointment at a donor center near you, donors can call 401.453.8383 or visit ribc.org.