A few weeks ago I mentioned on facebook how our bloodmobile now has an ALYX machine, allowing me to do a double-donation of a pint of blood plus a pint of red blood cells as well, and how a side benefit was that I was getting double the reward – $40 worth of Best Buy gift cards rather than the usual $20, plus double the amount of points for picking from the Blood Center of NJ schwag catalog as well.
This brought out a rush of comments from others about how they’ll get the occasional t-shirt or other tchotchke, but nothing really desirable. So now I’m wondering, besides the feeling of “hey, I’m doing something good for my fellow man” or an “I Saved A Life Today!” sticker, do you get any tangible reward for donating blood?
I understood that no payment was offered by our blood center to ensure people were being honest on the safety questions. But this may have changed; I haven’t been an active donor for several years (and only did pheresis donations prior to that for around 15 years).
I donate occasionally in Chicago, and Lifesource and Red Cross only offer you snacks, juice/coffee, and their thanks. My workplace (a medical center) sometimes has (plasma/platelets?) drives that offer more, like a full breakfast for morning donations, movies to watch, and coupons for free snack goodies (ice cream pints, donuts). I haven’t donated to them, though, because those draws take longer than blood donation, thus the better incentives.
Nope, juice and cookies and thanks; never had so much as a suggestion at any donor center that donors might get anything more. My next pint will be 2 gallons.
When I lived in the Bay Area I got points at the Stanford Blood Center that I could redeem for logo gifts like t-shirts or gym bags. Here in Montana it’s the Red Cross and they don’t seem to give you anything but the warm feeling that you are helping the community, which is fine with me.
I donate on occassion because I have a rare blood type. I have never recieved anything other than juice, a cookie and smile. Which is totally fine. Interestingly, though, the last time I was donating, the Washington Post was doing an article about people who donate. The opening line of the article (front page online - loudoun section) was, “LLCOOLBJ may not think she is a hero, but she saved several lives today.” It was pretty awesome. My mom certainly loved it. My coworkers laughed.
LifeSource in Chicago offers a points program called ‘Brighten Life’ that I’ve been in for a couple of years. With maybe 8 donations, probably 3 of them Alyx/double-donations, I’ve gotten 2 $25 gas cards.
That’s mostly what the ‘catalog’ is - a few merchants’ gift cards (I go for gasoline), t-shirts, an umbrella, an iPod if you donate like 90 times or something.
Oh, yeah - also a free detailed cholesterol test (HDL, LDL, triglycerides) if you donate 3 times in a calendar year.
Your mom’s cool with you being called **LLCOOLBJ **in a national newspaper?
I put no, but I did get a T-shirt like 5 years ago. Other than that it has been cookies and juice. Oh, and I think I got a snazzy Red Cross X-mas ornament one year.
I get a pin every time I reach a new gallon level, except last one; they did not give me a pin for 13 gallons. I think it was an oversight or they didn’t have any on hand. I have gotten things like pocket calendars and once I got a cute little purse-sized kit with a lip balm and a hand sanitizer in it.
I usually don’t get anything other than snacks, but the blood center I donate at does offer stuff occasionally. I donate whole blood every 8 weeks.
They do offer ‘A Pint for a Pint’ every Monday, a coupon for a pint of Baskin-Robbins ice cream for everyone that donates at the blood center on a Monday. So if there isn’t a bloodmobile conveniently located on my drive home from work when my eligibility comes up, I’ll drive over to the blood center. It’s worked out that way for the past 4 or 5 donations, and my next donation is this coming Monday. They also give a pin and a key chain for every gallon.
I get coupons that I never use. They’re either BOGO deals or free cheese dip and nachos (not kidding). Occasionally I do get a T-shirt, which I like because those are my work-out clothes. And of course, I stuff myself with cookies and drinks on my way out.
I miss donating platelets with LifeSouth, a regional Florida bloodbank (it’s also in a couple of other states). The whole experience was awesome (for me).
The apheresis and special donors were placed in recliners next to their machines. They also got pillows and real, heavy, knitted blankets.
They would also get their own small TV placed in front of them, and the floor had a closet with movies to watch while donating. I saw Se7en, Resident Evil I, and Blade while donating there.
You got your standard cookies and drinks during and after your donation. And a t-shirt (or two) when leaving. And real coupons. Not BOGO stupid offers (I don’t need two milkshakes), but free pizza, or Coldstone ice cream, or something along those lines. Something actually useful.
Man, really wanting to help out someone else and do the favor by donating was really encouraged there. Sigh
My total haul after many years of apheresis donations includes:
A mousepad
a 20 oz coffee cup
a couple t-shirts
a TON of cookies/juice
maybe a couple other tidbits I can’t think of.
The only thing Ive ever had from blood donation is a series of guilt trip calls if I ever miss a donation. I told the person to get bent once, never been made to feel so bad for doing something voluntary.
I answered Coke and cookies, but then I looked and there’s actually a website where I can track my donations and get points. But they’re points for NASCAR t-shirts.
Juice, Pretzels, Cookies, “Thanks for donating,” and a pin every time I’ve hit a gallon.
I think if I hit enough gallons, my name gets added to a plaque on a wall somewhere.
