Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Courtesy: Krispy Kreme
By Kevin Deutsch
Amid a historic national blood shortage, Krispy Kreme is thanking everyone who donates blood or platelets with a dozen of its famous glazed doughnuts at participating stores through Jan. 31, including two locations in Tamarac.
January is National Blood Donor Month, and the Red Cross announced its first-ever national blood crisis alert on Jan. 11. Severe winter weather has complicated efforts to rebuild the nation’s blood supply in the days since the alert, and hundreds of blood drives were canceled due to winter storms.
Due the severity of the shortage—America’s worst in over a decade—the Red Cross must limit certain blood distributions to hospitals depending on current inventories, the relief organization said. So blood donors are helping to provide lifesaving medical care whenever they roll up their sleeves.
“We’re grateful for all that the American Red Cross does for our country, and we want to help them,” said Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Hopefully a free Original Glazed dozen will increase awareness and even mobilize those who can give blood. We want them to enjoy the doughnuts with our thanks but also share the doughnuts while encouraging others to roll up their sleeves. We’re also encouraging all of our employees who can donate to do so.”
Amid the blood shortage, doctors have been forced to make difficult decisions about who receives blood transfusions and who will need to wait until more blood becomes available.
According to the Red Cross, blood and platelet donations are critically needed to help prevent further delays in vital medical treatments for accident victims, cancer patients, people with blood disorders like sickle cell disease, and those who need blood transfusions to survive.
“The Red Cross is grateful to Krispy Kreme for helping us thank our generous blood donors who are stepping up to help restock hospital shelves for patients in need during this historic crisis,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of donor services for the American Red Cross. “Our Red Cross teams are working around the clock to meet the needs of hospital patients but can’t do it alone. We hope this thank you from Krispy Kreme will help provide a ‘dozen more reasons’ for eligible individuals to make and keep their donation appointments in the days ahead.”
People who donate blood for the remainder of January can receive a free Original Glazed dozen by visiting a participating Krispy Kreme shop through Jan. 31. They must show either their donation sticker, received when they donated, or confirmation of the donation on the Red Cross blood donor app.
Participating Tamarac stores are located at 10010 West McNab Rd. and 4299 W Commercial Blvd.
All types of blood are needed, especially types O positive and O negative, as well as platelet donations. To make an appointment to give blood or platelets, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
More information is available at www.krispykreme.com/offers/redcross2022.
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