Hospitals are struggling with depleted blood inventories, and Athens-based Zaxby’s is giving you an incentive to help out.
“We want to help alleviate the acute nationwide shortage of blood donations the Red Cross is currently experiencing,” Zaxby’s founder and CEO Zach McLeroy said in a press release. “As a thank you to folks who give up their lunch break to donate blood, we’ll treat them to an award-winning Signature Sandwich on us.”
Credit: Richard HAMM l
Credit: Richard HAMM l
According to the American Red Cross, blood donation takes only about an hour from start to finish, “so in the time it takes to enjoy lunch, you can perform the ultimate act of kindness.”
“It is important to give blood right now because hospitals in the U.S. are having to manage a very depleted blood inventory,” said Dr. Justin Kreuter, a transfusion medicine physician with the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center. “In a normal year, the summer is usually a period of national shortage. However, this year, the shortage has been exacerbated by the combination of hospitals ramping back up their patient care to pre-COVID levels and recruitment of volunteer blood donors has not been able to keep pace.”
Schedule an appointment at an American Red Cross location to donate blood, platelets or plasma during October. After your visit, you’ll receive a “thanks for donating” email with a link telling you how to get your free sandwich.
The Signature Sandwich has a double hand-breaded fillet with three pickle chips served on a potato bun, with a choice of Zax Sauce or Spicy Zax Sauce.
The dish received the Fasties award this year for best fried chicken sandwich. The Fasties are presented by Thrillist for fast food and fast casual chains.
For people who do not have a Zaxby’s nearby, the Red Cross will honor each donation with a $5 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice.
“Only 3 out of 100 Americans donate blood, yet every two seconds, someone needs it. We continue to have an ongoing, critical need for blood,” said Darren Irby, executive director of Marketing for the American Red Cross. “In recent months, we have sent 12% more blood products to hospitals to help patients in need. Together with Zaxby’s, we’re encouraging people across the country to give blood and help save a life.”
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