ALBERTON – Alberton community members will get the opportunity to give blood and save a life on Friday at the Lakeland Feed and Supply Store’s Red Cross blood drive.

According to Jessie Nichols, an employee of the store, the Red Cross will set up shop in the building’s yard.

“The Red Cross has their big bus that they drive,” said Nichols. “I think they’re pretty well self contained.”

According to Nichols, the Red Cross contacted the store in mid December and made arrangements to host the blood drive. However, with Christmas and New Years right around the corner, there was little time to begin promotional efforts until recently.

Nichols was confident there would be plenty of people who would come out to give blood. She said the Alberton community was especially generous and recalled how previous drives in the area had been very successful.

“When the school did the blood drive they had to turn people away, which is unusual,” said Nichols. “There have been other really successful blood drives around the area. [It’s] kind of neat.”

Lakeland Feed and Supply will provide an additional incentive to the community for their contributions. Nichols said everyone who gives blood at the drive would get $5 off their next purchase of $25 or more. The store’s goal is to pack the schedule and give a little something in return.

“It is a little bribe,” said Nichols. “It’s a reward. I want people to think that we care, because we do.”

The discount will be provided on the honor system, with nothing to prove blood was given beyond the person’s word. Nichols was not worried about the possibility of attempts from people who had not given blood to scam the discount.

“I think that’s their bad karma,” said Nichols. “We’re not going to police it – you’d be able to see their band aide or cotton ball…for five bucks, I don’t think many people are going to try to pull the wool over our eyes.”

At the time of press, there were still spots available on the schedule. Walk-in donations can also be taken around the scheduled appointments, as chairs become available.

Local volunteers are usually needed to help process patients, provide recovery assistance when needed and hand out snacks after blood has been drawn.

For more information on the drive, or to schedule an appointment, call 722-1200. Information can also be found on Facebook at the Alberton Community Blood Drive event page or at redcrossblood.org with sponsor code: alberton. The blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, January 17.