Florida Blood Services Hosting Block Party for Blood Donations

Florida Blood Services will host a community block party and blood drive on Saturday to collect blood and give back to donors.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Wal-Mart Shopping Plaza at 14941 N. Dale Mabry Highway. Donors will get free food, drinks and giveaways, and will be entered in a drawing for grand prizes donated by local businesses.

According to Kiley Lukas, who does community relations for Florida Blood Services, the Carrollwood community faces blood shortages during the summer.

“Schools are out for the summer, families are away on vacation, so they’re not around to donate and visitors fly back up north,” she said. “We lose some of that population during the summer months, and that can lead to blood shortages.”

She said the block party is a way to get Carrollwood residents excited about donating blood at a time when it’s most needed.

“We’re trying to create a fun event for the summertime to create awareness and show people why we do what we do,” she said.

Florida Blood Services reached out to businesses in the Carrollwood area for gifts and prizes to give donors.

Prizes up for grabs include free tickets to a Side Splitters Comedy Club show, merchandise from Bucs & Bulls Heaven, gift cards to The Edge Salon and a pair of Tampa Bay Rays tickets.

The official goal for Saturday’s drive is to get 20 blood donations, but donors are encouraged to bring their families and make the most of the block party. Every blood donation can save up to three lives, Lukas said. 

“We love to hear from the community,” Lukas said. “It should be a great event to collect blood that we need.”