Marsh Regional hosts Pints for Paws blood drives, donates food to local animal shelters
Marsh Regional Blood Center’s donors have long enjoyed special-edition and themed T-shirts, but a special February blood drive will give their pets a chance to accessorize, too.
During the blood center’s Pints for Paws blood drives, which will be held from Feb. 10-14 in Bristol and Johnson City and Feb. 10-16 in Kingsport, blood donors will receive special Marsh Regional bandanas for their furry friends, and they’ll have the opportunity to fill out a paw print in honor or memory of a special pet. Plus, for every pint of blood received during these drives, Marsh Regional will give a bag of pet food to the animal shelter of the donor’s choice.
“Our blood donors become donors because they care about our communities and want to help – and their compassionate natures don’t stop at only helping people,” said Don Campbell, director of Marsh Regional. “So, in honor of their regular, lifesaving gifts to our region, Marsh Regional wanted to give back to someone else in need – cats and dogs who are looking for their forever homes.”
Pints for Paws will take place at Marsh Regional’s collection centers: 111 W. Stone Drive, Suite 300, Kingsport; 2428 Knob Creek Road, Johnson City; and 1996 W. State St., Bristol. All centers are open Monday and Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Additionally, the Julia Davis Collection Center in Kingsport is open from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday. Pints for Paws does not apply to any mobile blood drives.
When blood donors visit the collection centers and give, they will be able to select the shelter or rescue they want to support. Partnering shelters include The Bridge Home No-Kill Animal Rescue, Petworks, Washington County Animal Shelter, Neonatal Kitten Rescue and Bristol Tennessee Animal Control.
As many as three human lives can be saved each time someone donates blood – and blood donations to Marsh Regional stay local to help people in this region. Donors with O-negative blood types are particularly welcome, as their blood can be used for any patient.
Marsh Regional supplies blood to 28 regional medical facilities, all regional cancer centers and five air rescue bases in Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.
To give blood, donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more. Donors should eat a balanced meal before giving blood. People with a cold, sore throat, fever, flu or fever blisters may not donate. Donors can give on the same day they receive their flu shots; however, anyone who has been on antibiotics must wait seven days after taking their last dose.
For more information about scheduling a blood drive at a local business, church, school or community organization, please call 423-408-7500, 423-652-0014 or 276-679-4669 or visit www.marshblood.com.
