Royer’s is teaming up with the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank to host blood drives at three stores this winter.
Anyone attempting to donate to “Buds for Blood” with receive a free bouquet.
On Jan. 31, Royer’s stores at 201 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster, and 805 Loucks Road, York, will host bloodmobiles from 3 to 6:30 p.m.
The third blood drive is March 16 at the Camp Hill store, 3015 Gettysburg Road. It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., coinciding with that day’s Royer’s Kids Club event.
Appointments are not needed, but donors should have ID, eat within four hours of giving blood, and stay well hydrated. Orange juice and snacks will be provided after they donate.
Winter can be a challenging time for blood banks, in part because severe weather and cold and flu season can reduce the number of blood drives and the pool of potential donors. The busy holidays also reduce the amount of time people have to donate. Yet demand for blood is high because increased traffic at the holidays results in more accidents.
The Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank works to promote, secure and coordinate the region’s blood supply. The non-profit organization supplies blood to area hospitals, where each day patients use between 275 and 300 units of blood and products derived from blood.