Oklahoma Blood Institute and Oklahoma Pork Council are encouraging blood donors to give in preparation for the Memorial Day Holiday and enjoy free giveaways.

Oklahoma Blood Institute is joining forces with the Oklahoma Pork Council for a pre-Memorial Day blood drive event. 1,200 blood donors are needed each day to meet the needs of patients in our local hospitals and across Oklahoma. A holiday weekend, like Memorial Day, puts a real strain on what’s available. 

Due to the holiday, no blood will be donated on Monday. And very few people will take time to give this weekend, due to vacations and family activities.  

Thursday and Friday, May 26 and 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., anyone age 16 or older* is urged to donate blood.  

Donors can participate at one of the following donor centers:

Central OKC, 901 N. Lincoln Blvd.

North OKC, 5105 N. Portland Ave.

Edmond, TEMPORARY DONOR CENTER - 13431 N. Broadway Ext., Suite #101

Norman, 1004 24th Ave NW, Norman, OK 73069

Or one of two select mobile blood drives:

Memorial Hospital of Texas – 520 Medical Drive, Guymon, OK (Thursday, May 26 only, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m)

El Reno Community – Public Safety Center – 2707 Faith Avenue, El Reno, OK (Friday, May 27 only, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Each blood donor will receive:

FREE pulled pork sandwich from Oklahoma Pork Council

FREE, limited-edition “Bacon” t-shirt

FREE entry voucher of their choice to either one free ticket to Science Museum Oklahoma, Frontier City and the Oklahoma City Zoo or two free tickets to Safari Joe’s H2O Water Park in Tulsa.

Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777. Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives.

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year-olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required.