Blood Donor Center Offering Pies for Pints

The first 24 donors who donate a pint of blood on Tuesday, Nov. 20, and Wednesday, Nov. 21, will receive a free apple or pumpkin pie. All blood donated at the Antelope Valley Hospital (AVH) Blood Donor Center is used right here at the hospital.

"The holiday season is a time when blood donations tend to decline as people become busy with holiday preparations and travel. However, our need for blood remains constant," said AVH Blood Services Coordinator Ellen Gaines. "Blood donors literally make the difference between life and death for our patients every day as we live out our mission to provide life-saving care."

Every donor receives a free cholesterol test, and all blood collected will be used for patients at Antelope Valley Hospital. It only takes about 5-10 minutes to give a pint of blood, but donors should plan to spend about an hour in order to complete the entire process.

The AVH Blood Donor Center is located on the hospital’s campus in the Antelope Valley Outpatient Imaging Center at 44105 15th Street West, Suite 305, at the intersection of 15th Street West and Avenue J-5. Though the Blood Donor Center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, its regular hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or donors can make an appointment by calling 661-949-5622.