Local SUBWAY® restaurant owner Dhvani Vyas is once again challenging local residents to help their community by donating blood. The franchisee is partnering with the local American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Saturday, Jan. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the 7555 Greenbelt Rd. SUBWAY® location in Greenway Shopping Center.
The franchisee hopes many area residents will pre-register to join him in this effort to help save the lives of others.
“Each donation helps the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross move one step closer to meeting its daily goal,” stated Vyas. “The organization strives to collect more than 1,300 units of blood each day in order to maintain a safe supply for patients throughout the communities it serves.”
Partnering with the American Red Cross for the second time, the franchisee hosted his first blood drive in July 2007. The goal for that drive, 30 pints, was met and exceeded by donors, with a grand total of 67 pints being donated.
Pre-register and be rewarded
As a special incentive, each individual who pre-registers for the blood drive by Jan. 16 will receive a coupon valued at $1 off any foot-long sub or 50 cents off any six-inch sub. Those who sign up will be asked to provide an e-mail address, to which Vyas will send a reminder the day before the blood drive.
“While the act of donating blood is rewarding on its own, I am happy to offer extra incentives to donors,” stated Vyas. “I hope the pre-registration discount, along with the meal deals and raffle the day of the event, will give people an extra reason to donate.”
Although pre-registration is encouraged, it is not mandatory to be able to donate the day of the event. Interested individuals will be able to walk up to the mobile American Red Cross van parked in front of the SUBWAY® restaurant and register.
During the blood drive, SUBWAY® will give a free cookie to each person who donates, while the American Red Cross will be handing out orange juice.
All customers, regardless of donation, will have the chance to win one of three gift cards to local retailers, courtesy of the American Red Cross and SUBWAY®. The gift cards will be raffled off just after 4 p.m. A special $5 meal deal, tax included, also will be available to all customers regardless of donation. The deal includes the customer’s choice of one of six select six-inch subs, chips and a drink.
Blood supply always in need
The American Red Cross uses blood donations to treat a variety of patients, including those with cancer, sickle cell anemia and other blood disorders, burn victims, trauma patients, and everyday surgical procedures. Donation requirements typically fluctuate, depending on the time of year.
The American Red Cross is currently reporting that blood types O Negative and B Negative are in critically low supply, but all other blood types are still needed.
Individuals with an immediate interest in donating blood can arrange an appointment to fit their schedules by calling the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543)
For more information regarding local SUBWAY® Restaurants and the blood drive at the SUBWAY® in Greenway Shopping Center, please contact Lia Luisi at (919) 463-9680 or via e-mail at lia.luisi@thinkpartnership.com.
About SUBWAY® Restaurants
With more than 27,000 locations in 86 countries, the SUBWAY® Restaurant chain is the world’s largest submarine sandwich franchise. In 2002, the SUBWAY® chain surpassed McDonald’s in the number of restaurants open in the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Milford, Conn., the SUBWAY® Restaurant chain was co-founded by Fred DeLuca and Dr. Peter Buck in 1965. The SUBWAY® chain was ranked the number one franchise opportunity in Entrepreneur magazine’s Annual Franchise 500 ranking for 2007. This marks the 15th time in 20 years that SUBWAY® Restaurants has received this distinction. For more information on SUBWAY® Restaurants, please visit http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com.
