Blood drive planned for Monday at Whitley County Ready Fest

When Williamsburg donors help shore up the low blood supply for Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) next week, KBC will return the favor with a chance to win a free SUV during a national vehicle inventory shortage.

At the halfway point of KBC’s “Summer Getaway Giveaway,” KBC is offering donors, who are ages 18 and older, an opportunity to win a 2022 Toyota RAV4 with its annual summer vehicle giveaway. Registered donors will be entered for the grand prize with each donation at any KBC mobile drive or donor center between now and Sept. 10.

KBC will hold a blood drive in Williamsburg on Monday, July 18, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The KBC Bloodmobile will be at Whitley Central Intermediate School, which is located at 2940 North US25W. The blood drive will be held during the Whitley County Back to School Ready Fest.

Donors who donate in July and August will also receive a “Giving is Good” T-shirt.

“KBC needs eligible donors to step up now more than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on donations over the last two years, but the demand for blood from the 70-plus hospitals KBC serves in Kentucky never slowed down. Ranging from anything from cancer treatments to premature births, surgeries, car accidents and more, one in four people will need a transfusion in their life,” KBC wrote in a release. “Adding strain to the already low blood supply, summer is traditionally a slow time of the year for donations because schools are closed and families travel for vacation.”

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo identification and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

Appointments are preferred and walk-ins are welcome. To schedule a donation, visit kybloodcenter.org or call 1-800-775-2522.