News and Events

66-year-old Dilcia Allen of Newark, DE needed emergency blood transfusions during knee replacement surgery last year. Local blood donors provided what she needed to recover.

January 19 & 20, 2010

Two-day blood drive brought in 784 blood donors - the most ever in the history of the event

Ocean City, MD - The 12th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive was a record-breaker. A total of 784 people registered to give blood at the Ocean City Convention Center on January 19 and 20 - the most ever recorded in the 11-year history of the event.

"There are hundreds of people to thank for their role in making this event a success. The turnout was phenomenal and, as a result, so many lives have been saved," said Carrie Aiken, spokesperson for Blood Bank of Delmarva.

The blood drive was established in 1999 to promote blood donation during the winter, a time when blood supplies traditionally dip as donors are kept away by colds and flu, bad weather and holiday travel. In its first year, the two-day event registered fewer than 300 donors; the 2009 drive registered 655 donors - a former record high.

The Beach Blanket Blood Drive is sponsored by the Town of Ocean City, which has donated the use of the Convention Center since the event's inception. The co-sponsor is the Coastal Association of REALTORS, which helps promote the event and provides dozens of volunteers for the information tables and canteen. Several Ocean City businesses donated thousands of dollars worth of food and beverages to the canteen (post-blood donation area) and helped underwrite the cost of the free t-shirts provided to donors.

700 registered blood donors expected at 12th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive

Ocean City, MD - Hundreds of blood donors are expected to brave the winter temperatures along the coast and descend on the Ocean City Convention Center (40th Street and Coastal Highway) for the 12th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive on Tuesday, January 19 from 10am - 6pm and on Wednesday, January 20 from 9am - 5pm. The drive was established in 1999 to promote blood donation in the winter, a time when blood supplies can dip as donors are kept away by colds and flu, bad weather and vacations. The Beach Blanket Blood Drive helps avoid blood shortages that affect other parts of the country.

"When we first created this event, we wanted it to be a fun way to draw attention to a serious challenge - filling blood donation schedules in the winter," said Robert Travis, Blood Bank President and CEO. "It remains that way today. This is a much-anticipated event, and many donors come back year after year. But despite the fun, it fills a seasonal void and hundreds of donors at the blood drive help save hundreds of lives."

The Blood Bank is aiming for 700 registered blood donors at the event, which would break the all-time high of 655 donors set at the 2009 drive. Donors will receive a free t-shirt and the great feeling of having helped up to three hospital patients with a portion of their blood. The canteen will feature cookies, candy, donuts and snacks provided by Ocean City restaurants.

To make an appointment to give blood at this drive, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE. Walk-ins will be taken as time allows.

Organization's goal is to schedule 250 additional appointments before the event begins

Ocean City, MD - The 12th Annual Beach Blanket Blood Drive will be held at the Ocean City Convention Center on January 19 and 20, and Blood Bank of Delmarva still hopes to fill about 250 additional appointments before the event begins.

"We're shooting for 700 blood donors and this year's schedule is filling slower than in years past," said Robert Travis, Blood Bank President and CEO. "Though walk-ins at the event are more than welcome, we rely on scheduled appointments to ensure that we are getting the number of blood donations that we need."

The Blood Bank will be closing two of its donor centers and pulling staff members from other areas to work at this event. That makes it even more important that the event is a success.

The Beach Blanket Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, January 19 from 10am - 6pm and on Wednesday, January 20 from 9am - 5pm at the Ocean City Convention Center (40th Street and Coastal Highway). Donors will receive a free t-shirt and the great feeling of having helped up to three hospital patients with a portion of their blood. The canteen will feature cookies, candy, donuts and snacks provided by Ocean City restaurants.

To make an appointment to give blood at this drive, call 1 888 8-BLOOD-8 or click HERE. Walk-ins will be taken as time allows.