Medic collecting blood in the Burg

chantalle@theheraldnewspapers.com Medic is conducting a blood drive today at the Gatlinburg First Baptist Church at 111 Oglewood Lane from 10a.m. to 6p.m. Every summer Medic struggles to keep blood reserves at necessary levels. According to Medic, people get busy and don’t donate as much as they do other times of the year. “A single blood donation can help save 3 lives,” says Christi Fightmaster. “It’s a tremendous gift to the community.” Each blood donor will receive a several free gifts for donating blood including: a t-shirt, coupon for a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich, a cholesterol evaluation, and a membership into the Medic Family Blood Coverage Program. In the Medic Family Blood Coverage Program, Medic will pay blood processing fees for the donor and their IRS dependants should it be needed. Each blood donation gives the family a year in the program. Medic collects and supplies blood for 28 hospitals in 21 counties in East Tennessee and Southeast Kentucky. Medic will not be back in Gatlinburg until September 21st, when they will hold a blood drive at Ripley’s Aquarium. Other blood drives include August 3rd at Sevier farmer’s Co-op, August 18th at Ft. Sanders Sevier Hospital, August 21st at Wal-Mart and Kroger’s in Pigeon Forge.