SIDNEY – Alvetro Orthodontics in Sidney will help boost the blood supply during what has been a challenging flu season by hosting a community blood drive Thursday, March 2, from 2 to 6 p.m. in the conference room, 1102 Fairington Drive.

Everyone who registers to donate will receive the Community Blood Center “Kiss Me – I Donate Blood” St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt. Donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment online at www.DonorTime.com or call 800-388-GIVE.

A significant number of potential donors have been unable to give blood this winter because of widespread cases of flu and other seasonal illness. If you must miss an appointment to donate please reschedule when able. CBC specifically encourages eligible donors to help with the need for type O positive and type O negative whole blood donations and type A/B platelet and plasma donations.

Donors got to choose the bright green “Kiss Me – I Donate Blood” design for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt by casting votes on the CBC Facebook page (facebook.com/communitybldcenter) and through email balloting. It features a green lipstick kiss mark and the CBC blood drop logo inside a shamrock. The special edition t-shirt is free to everyone who registers to donate at a CBC Donor Center or most CBC mobile blood drives through Saturday, March 25.

Community Blood Center is now testing blood donations for the Zika virus and is no longer deferring donors for travel to Zika endemic areas. By consenting to give blood, donors are agreeing to participate in a research study to help develop better testing systems to protect the blood supply.

Learn more at www.GivingBlood.org.