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SALT LAKE CITY -- The American Red Cross will pay one month's rent or mortgage payment for one lucky donor who gives blood during the National Volunteer Blood Donor month of January.
The Red Cross says donors are typically most sparse in January, and the organization hopes the payment provides enough incentive to donate blood.
Tuesday night, KSL News found regular donors filing into the Red Cross' Salt Lake center. Phlebotomists moved from chair to chair, and the blood was flowing.
"I feel like it's the right thing to do," donor Giovanny Parra told KSL News.
Regular donors filed in Tuesday night to the Red Cross' Salt Lake center. Phlebotomists moved chair to chair, and the blood was flowing.
"I like doing it, saving lives," said donor Brittany Mounteer.
In Utah, someone needs blood every eight minutes. To supply that demand, the Red Cross has to collect a lot of blood.
"To meet the need of those 33 hospitals in Utah, the Red Cross has to collect about 440 units every day, that's about 2,350 [units] a week," said John Peterson, spokesman for the American Red Cross.
The organization has come up with a solution to help both parties: give blood anytime in January and you'll be entered in a drawing to have your mortgage or rent paid for one month, up to $1,500 hundred.
"It would be greatly appreciated for sure," Parra said.
"I think it's cool," Mounteer said. "It's always useful to get free money or rent, especially during tough times right now."
While 38 percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, only 8 percent actually does. The Red Cross hopes the incentive grabs the attention of that remaining 30 percent and ensures its blood supply stays in the black.
"The need is constant," Peterson said.
The drawing is part of the promotion "Home is Where the Heart Is." Donor eligibility involves minimum age, weight and health requirements, and presentation of a donor card or positive ID upon donation. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment.
To figure out which donation center is closest to you, see the map below.
Red Cross donation locations in Utah:
View Red Cross blood donation in a larger map
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Story compiled with contributions from Sarah Dallof and Wendy Leonard.