For Immediate Release:
January 30, 2012

Chance to win Providence Bruins tickets when you donate blood in February

Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — The Southcoast Blood Bank will be giving away three family four-packs of Providence Bruins tickets to blood donors during the month of February to thank and celebrate the critical role blood donors serve in helping to ensure blood is available to patients in need. Each donor will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win. The three winners will be drawn during the first week of March.

"Southcoast is dependent on volunteer donors to meet the needs of patients requiring life-saving treatments in emergencies, patients with cancer and other serious illnesses, and patients in need of surgery," said John Laverty, MD, Medical Director of the Southcoast Blood Bank. "The Southcoast Blood Bank is proud to have so many donors who have committed to donating blood on a regular basis to help save the lives of their friends, neighbors and members of their community."

To keep the local community blood supply strong, Southcoast uses more than 16,000 pints of blood a year. Currently through the local donor program, the Southcoast Blood bank collects 6,500 pints a year, which is less than half of the blood needed to supply the three Southcoast hospitals. The remainder of the blood is purchased from external sources and therefore dependent on the national blood supply.

In addition to emergency cases, blood is needed for people undergoing surgery and patients receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and hemophilia.

You have a choice! Donate local.

The Southcoast Blood Bank is the only local blood donor program that directly supports the communities of the South Coast region. When you donate at a Southcoast location, you could be saving a neighbor's life.

The following is a list of community blood drives during the month of February:

WAREHAM
Friday, February 3
Tobey Hospital
43 High Street
8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

SWANSEA
Sunday, February 5
CVS/Pharmacy
2340 GAR Highway
8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

EAST WAREHAM
Wednesday, February 8
Wareham Lodge of Elks
2855 Cranberry Highway
11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

FALL RIVER
Friday, February 10
Fall River Government Center
One Government Center
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FALL RIVER
Thursday, February 16
Bristol Community College
777 Elsbree Street
8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

NORTH DARTMOUTH
Saturday, February 18
Dartmouth Bible Church
52 Morton Avenue
8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

NEW BEDFORD
Thursday, February 23
YMCA
25 South Water Street
8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

FALL RIVER
Friday, February 24
Charlton Memorial Hospital
363 Highland Avenue
8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

DARTMOUTH
Monday, February 27
Healthtrax
250 Faunce Corner Road
Noon to 6:30 p.m.

SWANSEA
Tuesday, February 28
Swansea Ambulance
285 Wilbur Avenue
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Southcoast Blood Bank: The Southcoast Blood Bank is located at St. Luke's Hospital, 101 Page Street, New Bedford, off the main lobby. Walk-ins are welcome Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 to 2:30 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment call 508-961-5320. More information is available online at www.southcoast.org/bloodbank/.

Community Blood Drives: Southcoast hosts blood drives throughout the region on the Southcoast Health Van and at local businesses. The schedule can be found online at www.southcoast.org/van/ or by calling 508-961-5320.