MEDIC REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER ISSUES URGENT APPEAL AS O NEGATIVE BLOOD SUPPLY DROPS BELOW TWO DAYS
MEDIC Regional Blood Center has issued an urgent plea for O Negative blood donors following a severe depletion of its inventory due to recent local traumas. The supply currently stands at less than two days, threatening the medical needs of 24 regional hospitals and transport services across 23 counties in East Tennessee and Southeastern Kentucky.
To combat the shortage and encourage immediate donations, MEDIC has rolled out a series of high-value donor incentives throughout the week:
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Ella Langley Concert Tickets: Donors visiting Monday through Wednesday (September 21–23) are automatically entered for a chance to win floor seats to Thursday’s concert.
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Dollywood Ticket Giveaways: From September 21 to September 25, one pair of Dollywood tickets will be raffled off every day at every donor center and mobile blood drive—totaling 50 pairs given away.
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Special Edition Shirt: On Friday, September 25, donors will receive a special edition “9 to 5” Dolly Parton-themed shirt on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
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Imagination Library Donation: Donors can choose to “Skip their Gift,” prompting MEDIC to donate $5 per skipped shirt to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library throughout September and October.
Additionally, all O Negative donors are automatically enrolled in the O Negative Loyalty Program, earning e-gift cards based on donations made since the program’s launch in May 2026.
MEDIC emphasizes that blood currently on shelves is vital for immediate trauma response, noting that newly donated blood requires at least three days to be processed and distributed. As an independent, nonprofit organization, all local donations directly benefit patients in the East Tennessee and Southeastern Kentucky regions.
Appointments are encouraged but not required. Donors can view mobile drive schedules and permanent center locations at www.medicblood.org.
