Welcome to Litsy!

Thanks to everyone who participated and spread the word about the first #litsyblooddrive, specifically @bookzombie @kadagul @kshakal @lil1inblue @bookwomble @matchlessmarie @thebookhippie

Seeing all the messages and generosity made my birthday extra special. We had financial donations, snack donations, blood donations, and platelet donations. So many ways to give! Keep the hashtag going all year 🩸

Thank you @TieDyeDude for motivating me to go give blood last weekend! I had not donated since we moved to Indiana. I was able to find a local blood drive, but I didn‘t think to take a pic while I was donating on Saturday. #LitsyBloodDrive

I have platelets and plasma today!!

#litsyblooddrive @TieDyeDude

I'm ineligible to give blood, but I absolutely would if I could. Our local blood bank is owned by our for-profit hospital, so I refuse to donate money to them. (But would donate blood, since it's the exclusive provider to our area.)

Instead, I made a donation to the Blood Bank of Alaska in honor of @TieDyeDude for arranging this drive. What a fantastic idea.

#litsyblooddrive

Are you participating in the first #LitsyBloodDrive this weekend?

We have plans for this weekend, so I donated during my lunch break today (and broke out some tie-dye socks for the day 😉). Unfortunately, my employer doesn't provide paid time for donating (yet!), but yours might, so be sure to check. If you are able to donate monetarily, see if your employer has a donation matching program.

Thanks to everyone who has shared and will be giving 🩸

Thank you to everyone who committed to donating blood or otherwise supporting your local blood bank this week and year round! If you are planning on donating, here are a few tips for optimizing your donation.
#litsyblooddrive

BONUS FACT: Did you know that blood is generally sterile? When they ask if you are feeling healthy and well before your donation, it is not because of germs. It is because they don't want to risk compromising your immunity.

#LitsyBloodDrive @TieDyeDude
Having made a blood donation last week, I received an email to let me know how it has been used:
"After your donation...your blood was taken to our manufacturing centre in Manchester...then processed into a form that can be given to a patient in need. Once it was ready it was sent to the Hull Royal Infirmary where it will help to save or improve someone's life."
144 miles from Preston to Manchester to Hull! ❤️?❤️?

#litsyblooddrive

Ever consider donating blood, but think, "What's in it for me?" ?

Now, these claims have not been thoroughly studied (except the cookies ?), but there is strong evidence that kickstarting your body's blood production in a safe, controlled manner can have several cardiovascular benefits. You can read more here: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/surprising-benefits-donating-blood

I've put my photo of donating blood (🩸🅰️➕) behind a spoiler to protect the squeamish 😊 Mrs. B is one of those and would literally faint if she saw it!
I don't think anybody's yet posted a link to Tony Hancock's classic Blood Donor sketch for the#LitsyBloodDrive, so for those who haven't seen it, here's a little treat:
https://youtu.be/74rXlqx41vc?si=mqOOMKM96vUwaHIE