Donating Blood for a Chance to Win a $1,000 Gas Gift Card

Patient donating blood — Cropped NIAID / CC BY 2.0

ERIE (ERIE NEWS NOW) – The Community Blood Bank is asking for the Erie area’s help when it comes to battling a critical blood shortage.

On Wednesday, they made it even easier for people to donate by partnering with a local business for a blood drive with some incentives that could help those dealing with the pain at the pump.

Becca Totleben was one of many people who rolled up their sleeves to donate blood on Wednesday, an act of kindness that she has benefited from in the past. She and her twin were born early and she knows how vital donating blood is, “Three months premature so donating blood is just a thing that we do because we know where it goes and my parents just experienced first hand where it goes to so if we could help just anyone that would be great”, said Totleben.

This event comes as the area is in dire need of blood with a less than one day supply. Officials at the Community Blood Banks said it’s thanks to businesses like Hoffman United that open up their doors to help combat the blood shortage to help get people involved in taking care of their own community.

After hosting a blood drive last year, representatives at Hoffman United knew they wanted to do it again. Christine Hoffman, the Vice President of Hoffman United said, “We have the capacity to do it and there’s multiple businesses here at EBCO Park, so it’s a way for them to get involved as well, so we are super excited to have everyone here.”

After donating blood, people got a chance to be entered to win a $1,000 gas gift card to help ease the pain at the pump.

Richard Seymour, the Director of Donor Services said, “Gas prices right now has really driven up the demand, there’s clearly a big interest in winning that gift card.”

Not only did Totleben feel good about donating, but also about having the chance to get some help when gassing up. “Newly graduated. so just got my first job, so money is tight, so it will be helpful not have to worry about $5 a gallon for gas”, said Totleben.

If you missed Wednesday’s blood drive, you can still enter to win the gas gift card, you can enter whenever you donate blood at the Community Blood Bank or at one of their mobile drives. The winner will be chosen the first week of July.