Give Some Blood, Maybe Win a Car

YPSILANTI, Mich. – Blood donors typically get juice, a cookie and a thank you, but the local Red Cross has parked a new car outside a hospital to entice more people to help ease a blood shortage.

The pearl white 2007 Lincoln MKX crossover vehicle has a sign that reads: “Win this car. Give Blood.” As of Wednesday, there was no type O blood supply, and other blood types were critically low, The Detroit News reported.

“We wanted to put something out in the community that would catch people’s attention,” Red Cross spokeswoman Bridget Tuohey told the newspaper. “This is Motown. A car should do it.”

The American Red Cross of Southeastern Michigan also is offering gas cards valued between $25 and $200. Anyone who donates through Sept. 5 will be entered into a drawing. Prizes will be given away Sept. 8.

Donations typically fall off between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but 13,000 people have donated blood since the campaign was launched three weeks ago, the Red Cross said.

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Information from: The Detroit News, http://www.detnews.com