Blood. Food. These Needs Don't Take a Vacation

Summertime can be especially challenging for those in need of blood and of food because regular donors are on vacation. You are invited to help ease the shortage!

Summertime Blood + Food Drive 

Thursday, August 27, 2015 

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

 RI Community Food Bank Parking Lot 

200 Niantic Avenue, Providence, RI 

Rhode Island PBS, the Rhode Island Blood Center, and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank are proud to partner to create this special summertime giving opportunity to enable us all to better serve the community. With two ways to give, please come donate a pint of blood and bring a non-perishable food item. And even if you can’t give blood, your food donation is most welcome!

Rhode Island Community Food Bank staff will be on hand to give tours of the Food Bank and gratefully accept canned goods and other non-perishable food to help feed the 63,000 Rhode Islanders who visit various food pantries across the state every month. Your gift of a food item will help the Food Bank reach their Summer Food Drive goal to collect 150,000 pounds of food by August 31.


In 2015, the Rhode Island Blood Center celebrates 36 years of supplying hospitals and patients in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut with lifesaving blood components. Over the past three decades, much has changed in blood banking and transfusion medicine, but the fundamental concept of volunteer blood donors providing the gift of life for patients in need is as important as ever.


Beyond the personal satisfaction of making your life-giving donations on August 27, you’ll also receive organic, fair trade chocolate courtesy of the local Equal Exchange Cooperative. Now, that's a sweet incentive!


We appreciate and welcome participation by employees and patrons of local establishments in the Cranston Business Park and in the greater Niantic Avenue / Cranston Street areas.

Please contact Rhode Island PBS (401-222-3636) if you'd like a simple 8.5" x 11" paper poster to display in your business for your staff and customers. Thank you!

So, give the gifts of life - give blood and give food - because these needs don't take a vacation.

The Fine Print: 
• Blood donors must be at least 16 years old. 
• Parental consent is required for blood donors age 16. 
• Minimum weight for donors 17 years and older is 110 lbs. Minimum weight for 16 year olds is 130 lbs. 
• Photo ID required for ALL blood donors. 
• For questions about eligibility or medical requirements, please call Rhode Island Blood Center nurse's confidential line at (401)-453-8307