December OneBlood Drive at The Market Shops Dec 18

Tis the season for giving. Give the gift of life!

As millions of American celebrate the holiday season and prepare for the new year, The Market Shops and OneBlood encourage eligible donors to give blood for patients in need. Patients depend on generous blood donations every day - even on holidays.

The Market Shops will host a OneBlood Drive on Friday, Dec. 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The OneBlood Big Red Bus® will be parked in The Market Shops parking lot, adjacent to Highway 98. All donors will receive a free a wellness checkup including blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening. ID is required. 

Those planning to donate can schedule an appointment ahead of time by visiting www.oneblood.org/donate-now and use sponsor code #37126.
 

All donors will receive a complimentary COVID-19 Antibody Test in addition to the regularly administered wellness checkup consisting of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and iron count, including cholesterol screening.  

The antibody test is authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and will indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to the virus, regardless of whether they ever showed symptoms. Donors will be able to see their results approximately 48 hours after donating by logging into their donor portal at www.oneblood.org.

Donors will also receive a $20 e-gift card from OneBlood along with exclusive discounts from The Market Shops merchants including a free mini iced cinnamon biscuit from Maple Street Biscuit Company, a kid’s scoop of ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s, 10 percent off a purchase at Clean Juice, 10 percent off a purchase at Jon Smith Subs, and 25 percent off a purchase at Pizza by the Sea.
 

Blood donations often decline during the holidays when busy schedules, inclement weather and seasonal illnesses can make it more difficult for donors to make and keep donation appointments, but the need for blood doesn’t get a break for the holiday season. 

One in three people will need blood in their lifetime. Blood that is donated on December 18 will likely be transfused within two to three days. The turn- around is that fast, the need is constant. Many potential blood donors believe that they cannot donate blood due to medical or other reasons. If you are curious if you are a candidate for donation or to learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donors can target the power of their blood type, visit oneblood.org.

Located at the entrance of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, The Market Shops is an upscale, neighborhood-style shopping, dining and entertainment center. The Market Shops is the Emerald Coast’s premier location for local and unique retailers, specialty boutiques, an array of eateries from casual to fine dining and signature annual events including The Bloody Mary Festival and more. For more information, visit www.themarketshops.com or find The Market Shops on Facebook.