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Dunkin' Donuts Buffalo-area franchisees donate 250 pounds of coffee to American Red Cross to spur blood donations

by jmaloni

Submitted

Fri, Feb 28th 2014 05:40 pm

Presenting donors at blood donation centers to receive a free pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee

Campaign extends the annual "Give a Pint' Get a Pound" initiative

In response to a challenging winter that has severely impacted blood donations across the Northeast, Dunkin' Donuts franchisees in Buffalo Thursday announced an extension of the annual "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" campaign by donating 250 pounds of coffee to the American Red Cross Blood Services - New York-Penn Region.

Starting Thursday, the first 250 presenting donors who come in to donate at the Red Cross Blood Donation Centers at 786 Delaware Ave. (Buffalo) and 4267 Transit Road (Williamsville) will receive a free pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee* as the Red Cross works to make up a deficit of several hundred blood units.

"Dunkin' Donuts has forged a tremendous partnership with the American Red Cross over the past seven years through the 'Give a Pint, Get a Pound' campaign," said Alisa LaPlante, field marketing manager for Dunkin' Donuts. "Leading franchisee Tim Cloe and all of our Buffalo-area franchisees understand the vital role of the Red Cross and were honored to make a donation that will further incentivize blood donations during this critical time."

The announcement comes during a winter where Western New York has experienced several major snowstorms and where "polar vortex" is now a household phrase. Poor weather conditions also significantly impacted blood drives during National Blood Donor month in January, a pivotal time of year for the Red Cross.

"The Red Cross is grateful to Dunkin' Donuts for helping us to increase donations during this crucial time, so we can continue to provide blood to hospital patients where and when it is needed," said Kay E. Schwartz, CEO of Red Cross Blood Services - New York-Penn Region. "This generosity is reflective of Dunkin' Donuts' commitment to the communities they serve, and we are appreciative of Dunkin' Donuts and our volunteer blood donors for their ongoing dedication to our lifesaving mission."

For the past seven years, Dunkin' Donuts and the Red Cross have teamed up for the "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" campaign, which provides a coupon for a free pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee to all presenting donors at Red Cross blood drives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont during the month of January. The campaign has achieved great success during the past six years as Dunkin' Donuts has provided more than 520,000 pounds of coffee to presenting donors.

If one donation may help save up to three lives, Dunkin Donuts has potentially helped more than 1.5 million patients. Blood is used to help accident victims, trauma patients, transplant recipients and those receiving treatment for life-threatening illnesses.

Approximately every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is the blood on the shelves today that helps save lives tomorrow. The only source of blood is a healthy, volunteer blood donor. All eligible donors are encouraged to make an appointment to donate blood and to reach out to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to do the same.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting redcrossblood.org.

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