Antelope Valley Medical Center Blood Donor Center To Host "Pies For Pints" During Thanksgiving Week

(LANCASTER, CA) — Finding enough blood donors to sustain an adequate blood supply is a challenge at any time of the year. Add in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and that task becomes even more difficult. To help boost the blood supply this holiday season, the Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) Blood Donor Center is giving away free apple or pumpkin pies to the first 24 donors who donate a pint of blood on Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Wednesday, Nov. 25.

“We hope that the community will find a little bit of time to help us collect a safe and sufficient blood supply for our patients who require transfusions,” said AVMC Blood Services Coordinator Ellen Gaines. “Besides helping someone in need, donors get to enjoy relaxing for a few minutes during this busy time of year.”

Every donor receives a free cholesterol test, and all blood collected will be used for patients at Antelope Valley Medical Center. 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 AVMC 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.

About Antelope Valley Medical Center

Celebrating 60 years of caring for the community, Antelope Valley Medical Center is located in the city of Lancaster in northern Los Angeles County. The 420-bed district hospital is a Level II trauma center and provides a full array of medical/surgical services, pediatric treatment, NICU, mental health, cancer care and more. More information is available at www.AVMC.org or by calling 661-949-5000.

A donor shows off her pie after donating blood during a previous Pies for Pints Blood Drive.