Give a Pint, Save a Life, Then Celebrate at the Fair

Did you know that every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion? Or that blood is perishable, that red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days and and platelets just five days? The American Red Cross and blood donation sites throughout Southern California are in desperate need of donors. Summer is always a tough season with blood supplies needing major replenishment, but this year it’s particularly dire, according to the ARC.
I’m challenging you to do your part by donating blood at one of the many blood drives the L.A. County Fair is holding in conjunction with the ARC, Cedar Sinai, the City of Hope and Huntington Hospital. It’s simple, doesn’t take a lot of time and it is something most of us can do to help our community. And, you’ll receive a free any-day ticket to visit the L.A. County Fair for donating. The Fair runs Aug. 31-Sept. 30. Win and win!
Here are the dates for the drives:
Aug. 15, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sheraton Fairplex Hotel, 601 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, sponsored by Huntington Hospital, walk in or pre-register for an appointment by emailing jackie.baca-geary@huntingtonhospital.com.
Aug. 16, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sheraton Fairplex Hotel, sponsored by the American Red Cross, walk in or pre-register for an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code fairmckinley.
Aug. 21, 12:30-6:30 p.m., Sheraton Fairplex Hotel, sponsored by the City of Hope, walk in.
Sept. 6 & 7, L.A. County Fair, 1-7:30 p.m., sponsored by Huntington Hospital, walk in at the blood mobile across from the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts.
Sept. 10, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sheraton Fairplex Hotel, sponsored by the American Red Cross, walk in or pre-register for an appointment at www.redcrossblood.org and use the sponsor code fairmckinley.
Sept. 14, noon-7 p.m., L.A. County Fair, sponsored by Cedar Sinai, walk in at the blood mobile across from the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts.
Sept. 15, 10-4 p.m., L.A. County Fair, sponsored by the City of Hope, walk in at the blood mobile across from the Millard Sheeets Center for the Arts.
Sept. 21, 1-7 p.m., L.A. County  Fair, sponsored by the American Red Cross, walk in at the blood mobile across from the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts.
Who needs Twilight when you have the Fair and our great blood drive partners? See you in the blood lines.