Blood Donors Exchange “Pies for Pints”

As part of its Valentine’s Day tradition, the Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) Blood Donor Center is giving away free apple or cherry pies Feb. 12, 13 and 14 to encourage people to donate blood. Pies will be given to the first 20 donors on each of those days. All blood collected here is used for patients at the hospital.

“We celebrate Valentine’s Day by encouraging people to give blood, one of the most loving gifts to give because of how many lives can be saved,” said Antelope Valley Medical Center Blood Services Coordinator Ellen Gaines. “Our area has an urgent need for blood, and Pies for Pints helps our fellow Antelope Valley residents recognize the importance of donating blood that stays here in the community.”

All donors receive a free cholesterol test. It only takes about 5-10 minutes to give a pint of blood, but the entire process takes about an hour to complete.

The AVMC Blood Donor Center is located on the hospital’s campus in the Antelope Valley Outpatient Imaging Center building located at 44105 15th Street West, Suite 305, at the intersection of 15th Street West and Avenue J-5. The center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Wednesdays from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., and the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, or donors can make an appointment by calling 661-949-5622.