As part of American Heart Month, the Community Blood Bank has teamed up with the Glenwood Park YMCA & the Walgreens at 38th & Peach to kick start your heart healthy lifestyle. Each day this week 1 blood donor at 26th & Peach St. will win a 30 Day family membership the Glenwood Park YMCA & a Kinetik family Health Monitors Pack which includes an automatic blood pressure cuff, a digital ear thermometer and a digital stepometer. This package is valued at about $175! Bring your photo I.D. but no appointment is needed to save a life.

There is a unique race coming to Erie, and the Community Blood Bank is one of the beneficiaries. Introducing the Stanganelli’s Pepperoni Ball Jog ‘n Hog – Friday, June 15 at Presque Isle State Park. Participants will start at Beach 1, run out 2 miles, stop and eat a half-dozen pepperoni balls and then run (or waddle) back 2 miles. Get all the details at www.jognhog.com.

The Community Blood Bank and locally owned Icing on the Lake have paired up to give blood donors a sweet treat this Valentine’s Day. The first 75 donors this Tuesday, February 14th, will receive a Valentine’s Day cupcake or cake pop courtesy of Icing on the Lake. Donors all week long can also enter to win gift basket full of baked goods valued at over $100 courtesy of Icing on the Lake. Heavy use of blood at the area hospitals has reduced the current blood supply. The Community Blood Bank is appealing to people of all blood types, especially O+ and O-, to come and donate blood as soon as possible.

February is American Heart Month and the Community Blood Bank is helping to raise awareness about heart disease and the need for blood for heart patients. “I received blood during my heart bypass surgery. I am grateful the blood bank was there in my time of need and so is my family.” - Chip Deufel, – Action News 24, News Photographer

The Community Blood Bank is celebrating American Heart Month this February by reminding people that heart patients are very dependent on a safe blood supply as about 90% of heart surgery patients will need some type of blood transfusion during their treatment. Hundreds of people will have heart surgery in the region this year. The blood bank will hold several events in February to support American Heart Month. American Heart Month is about preventing heart disease. The Community Blood Bank is there for patients every year that are treating heart disease so giving blood in February is a great way to help local heart patients.

The local blood supply has been below optimum safe levels for several weeks with heavy usage by patients preventing a full recovery from the blood shortage in January. More donors will be needed to get the numbers back up to where the hospitals would like to see them. The Community Blood Bank of Western New York is holding a blood drive at Jones Memorial Hospital on Friday February 3rd from 9am to 3pm, no appointment is needed, and everyone is encouraged to come and save a life.

The blood shortage affecting the region continues as continued heavy blood usage this weekend prevented the blood supply from recovering. The Community Blood Bank is appealing to the public to recruit more people to come and give blood this week at the main office at 26th & Peach Streets in Erie. Donors can sign in Monday through Friday 8am to 6pm and no appointment is needed to save a life.

ERIE, PA –The blood shortage that developed in the region worsened with continued heavier than normal usage and lighter than anticipated donor turnout the two contributing factors. Much of the nation is experiencing the same problem so the blood bank won’t be able to borrow blood in the event the situation becomes critical. Local donors are needed to end this shortage. In the past the Community Blood Bank has been able to buy blood from other blood banks to help end shortages. The Community Blood Bank has also sold blood to other blood banks in the same predicament.

ERIE, PA – The local blood supply dropped suddenly overnight causing a blood shortage. In an unusual scenario, more blood was used by local hospitals Tuesday than was transfused all of last weekend. The blood supply had not gotten back to 100% after the holidays so it had lower to fall to hit shortage levels. Extra donors are now needed to meet local needs and to end this shortage. The Community Blood Bank is asking people to take the time out to help save a life and to end this shortage before it becomes more serious.

1 lucky donor each day this week will win a pair of tickets to the erie Philharmonics presentation of Mozart's 41st symphony: Jupiter. One grand prize winner this week will win 4 tickets to the Phil and dinner for 4 at Calamari's Squid Row on State Street!