Warm Your Heart, Warm Your Home: Donate Blood
News Release: Dec. 29, 2009
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771


The American Red Cross is offering you the chance to not only warm your heart when you make your next blood donation, but also give you a chance to warm your home. All presenting donors in January 2010 will be eligible to win a $1,000 VISA gift card that can be used towards the cost of heating their homes.

The American Red Cross will hold blood drives in Carbon County on the following days:

Saturday, Jan. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Blue Mountain Ski Resort, 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Danielsville; and,

Wednesday, Jan. 13, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall, 101 West 10th Street, Jim Thorpe. Refreshment sponsor is Jim Thorpe Market.

To donate blood and platelets through the American Red Cross, individuals must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health. In Pennsylvania, 16-year-olds may donate blood provided they bring a signed parental consent form to the blood drive. Parental consent forms can be obtained from local high schools prior to the blood drives or directly from nursing supervisors at Red Cross drives. High school students and donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

The American Red Cross holds blood drives in communities seven days a week. Please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment to donate, or visit www.givelife.org to find a blood drive near you.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 70,000 people through preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief and information and referral. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.