from Saratoga Casino and Raceway

Saratoga Springs, NY — Saratoga Casino and Raceway is once again teaming up with the American Red Cross for its ninth blood drive. Employees, staff and members of the local community are urged to give blood on Monday (July 27) from 12-6 p.m. inside Vapor at 342 Jefferson Street in Saratoga Springs. This will be the casino’s second blood drive of 2015.

All presenting donors will receive a $5 DD Card. Additionally, all presenting donors will also receive a $10 voucher to Lucky Joe’s restaurant in the casino.

“We are excited to partner with Saratoga Casino and Raceway for another blood drive this year,” said Kay E. Schwartz, CEO of the Red Cross New York-Penn Blood Services Region. “The summer is a difficult time for the Red Cross to collect blood donations and we are grateful to Saratoga Casino and Raceway for helping the Red Cross save lives and we are proud to work closely with them as a partner on this drive.”

“We always see a great response from our team members and the local community at all of our blood drives, “said Rita Cox, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Saratoga Casino and Raceway. “It’s our pleasure to step up to help the Red Cross in a time when they need it most.”

Summer vacations and travel can contribute to less availability for people to give blood or platelets. In a spring survey of Red Cross blood and platelet donors, nearly 90 percent indicated plans to take vacations this summer. However, patients don’t get a summer holiday or vacation from needing lifesaving blood. The Red Cross relies on volunteer donors for the 15,000 blood donations needed every day to support patients at about 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

With more summer days ahead, every blood donation is important in helping ensure blood is available for patients in need, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood for those who need it. Donors of all blood types — especially those with types AB, O negative, A negative and B negative — are needed to help ensure blood products are available to hospital patients this summer.

One blood donation can help save up to three lives and local blood donors are needed all year long to help ensure a stable blood supply for patients in need. Walk-ins are always welcome, but donors are encouraged to make an appointment by downloading the new Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1.800.RED.CROSS (1.800.733.2767).