Donate blood, get Renaissance Festival tickets for 2021 and a free haircut

The Red Cross is holding a blood drive on Sunday, September 6th, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Hilton Garden Inn, 9315 Statesville Road, Charlotte.

Many blood drives have been canceled, so the Red Cross urgently needs blood donations.

Two organizations, Carolina Renaissance Festival and Sports Clips, have stepped up to offer gifts to those who donate blood.

The first 100 processed donors, walk-in or registered, will be registered to receive a free admission ticket to the 2021 Carolina Renaissance Festival.

And all presenting donors will be registered to receive a buy-one, get-one free admission coupon to the 2021 Festival.

Donors will also receive a free haircut coupon courtesy of Sport Clips Haircuts.

Finally, all donors will receive a pair of Red Cross branded socks. Prizes and gifts are not redeemable for cash and available while supplies last.

Blood drive safety precautions

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

How to donate blood

For more information and to make an appointment to donate, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors of all blood types are needed. For the blood drive at the Hilton Garden Inn on September 6th, enter zip code 28269 when you search for a blood drive.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in Pennsylvania), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive.

To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.