SIDNEY – Peerless Food Equipment in Sidney will host a community blood drive Friday, March 11, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. celebrating March, St. Patrick’s Day and the early days of spring. The Community Blood Center Bloodmobile will be at 500 S. Vandemark Road. Everyone who registers to donate will receive the CBC “St. Patrick’s Day Blood Donor” T-shirt with the Celtic sun design. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 800-388-GIVE.

The Celtic sun t-shirt campaign comes during March’s traditional celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The t-shirt is bright green with the sun design in aqua green and blue. It brings to mind a faded wooden placard outside a classic Irish pub. The T-shirt is free to anyone who registers to donate through Saturday, March 19, at a CBC Donor Center and most CBC mobile blood drives.

Late winter and early spring is a time when weather and seasonal illnesses can still interfere with donating. In addition, CBC has adopted new screening procedures as a caution against the spread of the Zika virus. Any potential donor who has traveled to Zika virus endemic areas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central or South America will be deferred from donating for 28 days. The restriction is expected to decrease the number of eligible donors by approximately 2.25 percent. CBC is encouraging eligible donors to help offset this loss by making an appointment to donate. Type O whole blood donors and type AB platelet and plasma donors are especially encouraged to donate when able.

Learn more at www.GivingBlood.org.