For the past few years, me and another guy from my office have coordinated blood drives that take place 3 or 4 times a year. We had one yesterday. It went very well. Our turnout was pretty good, even though it's the middle of summer and lots of people are on vacation.
I don't know if other companies do this, but we bribe our employees into giving blood. A few years ago, we got so sick and tired of the dismal turnouts at our blood drives that we almost gave up having them altogether. We then decided to start bribing our employees, since guilt and community service propoganda weren't working any longer. A few weeks before the drive, we hit up the company, and everyone else we can think of, for donations of gifts, and we have a raffle. Anyone who donates, or makes the attempt, is eligible for the drawing. Our grandest prizes are usually Mariner tickets in the company's box seats (very coveted), second prize is usually a 10 lb. seafood pack donated by the company (I won this one time - yum!), and third prize is usually a pair of movie tickets. Sometimes we substitute gift certificates to restaurants and Eagle Hardware (or Home Depot, etc.) in place of the Mariner tickets. At any rate, the company picks up the tab for the prizes and people love it.
We also bring in goodie bags the morning of the drive, filled with muffins, juice, crackers, etc. for all the people who signed up in advance. That's a big hit. And we recruit people to bring in home baked goodies to put out in the blood mobile, for people to snack on when they're finished donating. It's much better than the little packaged cookies the blood center provides.
So you see, we bribe our employees into donating blood. And we don't feel a bit guilty about it, because it's a very valuable community service, and an extremely worthwhile cause. I believe in it. I think everybody should donate blood. After all, the life you save could be your own. Or your spouse's. Or your child's. Or a complete stranger's.
It's one of the noblest causes I know of.
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