Arizona’s largest blood drive to be held in Tempe this weekend

PHOENIX — For those who are looking to be more charitable in the new year, there will be a great opportunity this weekend for you to do so.

United Blood Services will host this year’s Saving Arizona blood drive, which is the largest blood donation effort in the state, over the weekend.

The drive will be held at the Tempe Center for the Arts from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday in an effort to ramp up the Valley’s blood supply after the long holiday season.

“This is the largest effort to rebuild our [blood] supplies following the long holiday timeframe, which is the most difficult time of the year to maintain a good supply,” Sue Thew, a spokeswoman with United Blood Services, said.

Thew said while the company, which is the sole supplier of blood for Maricopa County, is in need of blood donations of all types, it is most desperate for O-negative blood. Thew said there is less than a one day supply of it on hand.

This is the latest blood drive collection effort since United Blood Services sought blood donations for patients at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in December.

Those who decide to donate during this Sunday’s event will receive a one-day voucher for admission to the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February and a voucher for a free medium cheese pizza from Streets of New York.

KTAR News’ Ali Vetnar contributed to this report.

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