WECT TV6 - WECT.com - Wilmington, NC news and weather - When you tire of eating turkey, try giving blood

When you tire of eating turkey, try giving blood

Posted by Heather Setzler - bio|email

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - The Wilmington Blood Center of the American Red Cross will hold its annual Tired of Turkey Days Blood Drive starting Friday.  The center is located at 1102 South 16th Street.

Donors will receive free food coupons and other treats that will be served in place of the traditional turkey dinner and leftovers that typically remain after the Thanksgiving holiday.

This year's Tired of Turkey Days Blood Drive will be held:

• Friday, Nov. 27: 8 am - 2 pm
• Sunday, Nov. 29: noon - 4:30 pm
• Monday, Nov. 30: noon - 6 pm
• Wednesday, Dec. 2: noon - 6 pm
• Friday, Dec. 4: 8 am - 2 p.m.

All donors will receive a free packet of McDonald's cookies, a coupon for a free item at McDonald's, a 2009 American Red Cross holiday ornament, and the chance to enter to win one of three pairs of roundtrip Delta Airline tickets.

The Carolinas Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross provides blood to 103 hospitals and must have 1,600 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet patient needs.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet height and weight requirements.

To schedule an appointment, call 254-GIVE (4483).

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