Annual observance in January honors voluntary blood donors around the nation, including Northeast Florida
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – January 3, 2024 – January is National Blood Donor Month, and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers is celebrating by helping to spread awareness toward the importance of giving blood. The annual observation honors the selfless blood donors of Northeast Florida and encourages first-time donors to give the gift of life in the new year. LifeSouth is also kicking off the new year by announcing its 50th anniversary as an organization in 2024.
National Blood Donor Month was first celebrated in January 1970, after President Richard Nixon issued a proclamation establishing the observance. Now in its 53rd year, the observance brings attention to the role that blood donors play in public health at a time when many blood centers around the nation experience a supply shortage.
This year’s celebration is especially important, as all blood types are needed to offset a national blood supply shortage that continues to impact the local community. LifeSouth supplies blood to 70% of Northeast Florida hospital beds through its service to many regional hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Baptist Medical Center South, HCA Florida Memorial Hospital, HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, UF Health North and Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Blood donated with LifeSouth directly helps patients at these hospitals.
As part of LifeSouth’s “Donor Give a Latte” promotion on January 18 through January 21, donors who give blood at one of LifeSouth’s three donor centers across Northeast Florida will receive a $20 Starbucks e-gift card along with a LifeSouth-branded coffee mug*. If a donor gives a double red cell donation or a platelet donation, they will receive an additional $20 e-gift card for their generosity. In addition to the e-gift card, blood donors also receive refreshments, and a mini-physical including cholesterol, iron level, temperature and blood pressure.
LifeSouth encourages Northeast Florida residents to participate in National Blood Donor Month in one of the following ways:
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- Make a donation.
- With only an average 1-2
- day supply available in the state of Florida, it's more important now than
- ever to make sure blood is available for patients.
- LifeSouth welcomes regular and first-time donors to visit one of its donor centers
- in Northeast Florida, or find one of its signature red, white and blue buses to donate at a mobile blood drive.
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- Encourage a first-time donor.
- With a low percentage of the population annually participating in the blood donation process, the best way to make a difference is to encourage someone to donate with you at one of LifeSouth’s donor centers or blood drives.
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- Host a blood drive.
- LifeSouth welcomes the support of businesses, organizations, churches, professional groups and neighborhoods looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community.
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- Share your story.
- Personal stories often inspire others to save lives by donating with LifeSouth. Tag @LifeSouth in posts on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and use the hashtag #NationalBloodDonorMonth.
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For additional information about donation or to find a blood drive near you, call LifeSouth toll-free at 888-795-2707, visit www.lifesouth.org or download the LifeSouth app. Appointments can also be made online.
*While supplies last. Starbucks e-gift card can be traded to another retailer of your choice. Valid at donor centers only.
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