LifeShare Blood Center in Texarkana will give donors a free fleece blanket and a $15 voucher toward a ham or turkey from Tuesday, Nov. 17, through Saturday, Nov. 21. The vouchers can be redeemed at a range of grocers, the center said.
According to a news release from LifeShare, the Thanksgiving week is one of the hardest weeks of the year for the blood supply. Holiday travel and busy schedules mean fewer people donate, while hospitals need blood all the time. The campaign, called Thanks for Giving, has a goal of 1,800 donors this year. Last year, 1,630 people gave during the campaign.
Mandi Johnson, LifeShare's director of community engagement, said blood donors help patients across the region get lifesaving care. "Thanksgiving is about gratitude, and no one deserves our thanks more than the donors who show up for patients they may never meet," she said.
LifeShare Blood Center is at 4020 Summerhill Road. Walk-ins are welcome. Donors can also schedule a visit by calling 903-794-3173 or going to lifeshare.org. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.