Give blood: Win a vacation, wipe out some parking tickets

Owe money on Cedar Rapids parking tickets?

You can get some of those tickets forgiven if you donate blood this summer.

The Citation Forgiveness Blood Drive is one of several promotions the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center is hosting to boost donations during the typically slow summer months.

To put a dent in those parking fines, show up when the blood center's Donor Bus is outside the Park Cedar Rapids office, at 349 Fourth Ave. SE, on June 22, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; or Aug. 17, from 3:30 to 6 p.m.

Park Cedar Rapids will dismiss citations of up to $25 per donation.

Also, those giving blood at donor centers until Aug. 20 will receive a voucher for a $10 gift card.

The same vouchers will go those donating during mobile blood drives from July 1 to Aug. 13.

Gift card options include ones to Amazon, Starbucks, Steak & Shake, Subway, Target, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Panera, Buffalo Wild Wings, Home Depot, iTunes and more.

In addition, blood donors also will be entered into a drawing to win a vacation package valued at $2,500. Drawings will be held at the end of June, July and on Sept. 10.

Donations take about 45 minutes.

Blood centers around the state typically see a drop in blood donors during the summer.

'During the summer months, we can see a dip of about an overall 20 percent, which is a major impact,” said Lisa Sparrow, donor relations supervisor at the blood center, which serves 86 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin,

The challenge of having enough blood is greatest on the days surrounding summer holidays.

'A lot of the times for federal holidays we are closed, too,” Sparrow said. 'For example, the Fourth of July a lot of our centers are closed, and so that's a day that we miss donations.

'Really, once the day is gone, the day is gone. You can't get those donations back, and so we really like people to give in the days leading up to or immediately following a holiday.”

Another reason for depleted supplies is that schools are not in session.

'About 10 percent of our supply typically comes from high school and college blood drives during the school year,” Sparrow said. ”We find that students are really good supporters.”

There is also often a decrease in sign-ups and lower show rates for appointments during the summer months as well.

It's hoped the promotions will encourage donations.

'We can't make up the donations that we don't get today,” Sparrow said.

l Comments: (319) 368-8538; elianna.novitch@thegazette.com