Get a pound of coffee, give someone the gift of life

Date: 1/6/2011

GREATER SPRINGFIELD — To celebrate National Blood Donor Month and help increase awareness about the need for blood, Dunkin' Donuts and the American Red Cross are teaming up for the fourth annual "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" campaign, which provides a coupon for a free pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee to all presenting donors at Red Cross blood drives in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont during the month of January.

In addition, participating local Dunkin' Donuts restaurants are hosting blood drives throughout the month to collect blood for patients in need. To donate blood during the month of January call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org.

Dunkin' Donuts and the Red Cross are thanking donors who support the community blood supply by rolling up their sleeves to give the gift of life. Patients in area hospitals need blood every day and one donation may help save three lives. Because winter is often a challenging time for blood collections due to severe weather and flu season, the "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" campaign helps boost blood collections when patients need it most. The campaign achieved great success last year, helping the Red Cross exceed blood collection Over the past three years, Dunkin' Donuts has provided more than 100,000 pounds of coffee to presenting donors.

"The 'Give a Pint, Get a Pound' campaign helps the Red Cross increase blood collections so that we can meet the daily needs of patients in area hospitals during the winter months," Donna M. Morrissey, director of communications for the American Red Cross Blood Services — northeast division, said. "The program reflects Dunkin' Donuts' commitment to the communities they serve, and we are very appreciative of Dunkin' Donuts for its ongoing dedication to our lifesaving mission."

"Dunkin' Donuts is proud to partner with the American Red Cross once again to provide our coffee as a gift to those who give blood," Karen Raskopf, senior vice president of communications at Dunkin' Brands and co-chair of the Dunkin' Donuts Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation, said. "We encourage all eligible blood donors to give blood and help those in need in our communities."