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Community Blood Centers Hosts Band-aid Drive For Area Children's Cancer Programs
(August 28, 2008) Community Blood Centers of South Florida (CBCSF) has teamed up with local merchants, schools and religious organizations to collect children's character band-aids and stickers for area pediatric cancer patients throughout the month of September.
The first "Sticking Together" drive was held in March 2007 to benefit the Jackson Memorial Children's Cancer Fund. It has since grown to benefit numerous pediatric hematology/oncology programs throughout the tri-county area.
Blood donors and local residents can help by dropping off new, unopened boxes and packages of band-aids (strips and dots) and children's stickers featuring cartoon characters and other fun designs at any CBCSF donor center or blood mobile, or numerous partner drop-off locations in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and The Keys.
"The children get so excited picking out a band-aid featuring their favorite cartoon or storybook character," says Maxine Wolff, Assistant Donor Recruitment Director and "Sticking Together" program coordinator for CBCSF. "The nurses and child life specialists at several hospitals have told us the themed band-aids really make a difference to patients, whether they are five years old or twelve."
"The band-aid drive also helps us expose more people to the importance of blood donation and their role in helping many cancer patients," says Tracy Amara, CBCSF Director of Branch Operations. Industry reports state about 37% of the U.S. population can donate blood, but only around 10% of them actually do so. "We must find ways to compel more South Floridians to donate, and to donate as often as possible," adds Amara. "If something as simple as character band-aids and stickers can bring a smile to children battling cancer, just imagine what life-saving blood donations can mean for these patients and their families."
Community Blood Centers of South Florida, Inc., a non-profit organization, is the supplier of 80% of the blood used for medical care in South Florida. CBCSF has 45 blood mobiles and 15 donor centers serving Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and The Keys. To schedule a blood drive, donate by appointment, to learn more about blood donation or find additional band-aid drop-off sites, call 800-357-4483 or visit www.cbcsf.org.
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