American Red Cross

Village Inn offers presenting donors sweet reward for honoring dad with blood donation this weekend

OMAHA, Neb. (June 15, 2009) – This Father’s Day weekend, metro residents can honor their fathers by giving the gift of life. For their generous donation of blood, the Red Cross and two metro Village Inn locations are providing all presenting donors with a free apple pie on Saturday, June 20.

One out of every 10 people admitted to the hospital needs blood. These individuals are family members, friends, neighbors and people you may never meet, but they all rely on blood donations.

“The need for blood is constant,” said Tricia Rubens, CEO of the local Red Cross Blood Services region. “We are delighted to be partnering with Village Inn to provide lifesaving blood components for patients in need. We hope metro residents will make donating blood a summer tradition along with baseball and apple pie.”

When you donate blood through the Red Cross, you help provide the gift of life for patients in serious medical need. Make an appointment to donate blood today and you can change a life, starting with your own.

Blood Donation Opportunities:

• Saturday, June 20, 7 a.m. to Noon
  Village Inn, 2935 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs
  Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit givebloodgivelife.org to make an appointment.
• Saturday, June 20, 7 a.m. to Noon
  Village Inn, 8304 S. 72nd St., Papillion
  Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit givebloodgivelife.org to make an appointment.

How to Donate Blood
The Red Cross especially encourages those with an O negative blood type to donate to help maintain the blood inventory. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Eligible donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 years old with a signed Red Cross parental/guardian consent form in Nebraska and Iowa, must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health.

About the American Red Cross
Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. In addition to providing nearly half of the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.

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