'Give A Pint, Get A Pint' Adds Incentive To Blood Donations

DENVER (CBS4)- It's a "Pint for a Pint" month at Vitalant, formerly Bonfils Blood Center. Blood donations are especially important this time of year.

Donors are needed this winter because colds and cold weather prevent many donors from giving blood. During the entire month of January there is an added incentive.

"It takes 20 minutes out of my day to come in and do something super simple. It makes a difference, it's something super easy I can do to make a difference," Tillifinney Smith told CBS4.

She donates blood every two months and thinks the promotion is a great incentive.

"I think it's great. I mean it's an incentive for people to come in and then get out there and enjoy a pint of beer," said Smith.

People who give a pint of blood at Vitalant locations will get a voucher for a pint of beer or a soft drink at Rock Bottom Brewery, Old Chicago or Gordon Biersch Brewery.

Megan Ehlers is a donor care specialist with Vitalant and says the promotion has helped recruit new donors.

"Occasionally we will get a new donor and we love to see new donors. Not as many people who are eligible to donate do donate and that's because they've never been asked," she told CBS4.

Bonfils Blood Center changed its name to Vitalant in September 2018. Vitalant is based in Scottsdale, Arizona and operates eight donation centers in Colorado.