| By Big Radio News Staff |

The Rock River Valley Blood Center is offering gift giveaways to spur people to donate blood more than once a year.

Blood center executive Heidi Heidi Ognibene says right now, the nonprofit is critically low on blood and platelets.

Ognibene says her blood center prefers to have enough blood banked to cover typical need for a seven-day span. Right now, the blood center is stocked with a supply for just one to two days.

One new program called “Spin Six” offers a $100 gift for anybody who gives platelet donations more than six times a year. And “four seasons” offers a $100 gift for people who donate blood at least four times a year.

Ognibene says people are often motivated by free gifts.

The other program, “Never Miss a Monday,” would give the first 100 blood donors each week a gift card from a different local retailer every week.

The Rock River Valley Blood Center is the exclusive supplier of blood to Mercyhealth’s Rock County and northern Illinois hospitals.