Ozarks Healthcare and Community Blood Center of the Ozarks Seek Donors for 20th Annual Bleed Red Blood Drive

Baseball fans have a special opportunity to donate blood and receive exclusive rewards for participating in the next blood drive hosted by Ozarks Healthcare and the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks (CBCO) on Friday, June 21, from noon to 6 p.m. located at the Willard Hunter Classroom in Parkway Center in West Plains. The CBCO serves over 40 hospitals, including Ozarks Healthcare, and each donation can impact up to three local patients.

While supplies last, successful donors will receive a Springfield Cardinals “Bleed Red” baseball shirt and a voucher for two free general admission tickets to any Springfield Cardinals home game in June or July 2024 (excluding July 4).

According to the CBCO, friends, family members, coworkers, neighbors or loved ones of people across the Ozarks need blood every seven minutes.

To ensure a seamless donation process, donors are advised to:

1. Drink plenty of water or juice the night and morning before you donate.

2. Eat a well-balanced meal around 2-3 hours before giving.

3. Bring your photo ID - Photo ID is now required for all donors.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged to minimize potential wait times at the blood drive. Donors can schedule an appointment at https://www.cbco.org/donate-blood/ or by calling 417-227-5006.

Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.