Kroger store wins the “Great Turkey Escape” Challenge

Press release from the American Red Cross:

Kroger store wins the “Great Turkey Escape” Challenge
Hospital patients are the real winners

The results are in! The Dupont and Coldwater Road Kroger Store was voted the winner of the 2009 Kroger/Scott’s Great Turkey Escape Blood Drive Challenge. This is the second year in a row that this store has won the title.

From Monday, Nov. 23 through Thanksgiving and Black Friday, all presenting donors at the Fort Wayne and Lutheran Hospital Donor Centers were able to vote for their favorite Kroger or Scott’s grocery store. Plus, donors were entered to win a $50 Kroger/Scott’s gift card and a turkey. One winner was drawn each day for a total of six winners.

“The real winners of this challenge are hospital patients in need,” said Shelby Norris, Communications Specialist for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “We collected 249 pints of blood during the week of Thanksgiving. This surpassed our goal of 200 pints. In addition, 221 platelet products were collected.” Since each blood donation may be broken down into components and used to help different patients, these units have the potential to help save over 700 lives!

“On behalf of the hospital patients we serve, thank you to everyone who took time to give the gift of life during the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Norris.

How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or visit IndianaOhioRedCross.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.

About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.