Calling All Smarties

Are you one of those people who can spot a real bargain? Do you prefer preowned cars? Maybe to save money you clip coupons, go to matinees or drink wine by the box.
Have I got a deal for you!
Are you ready? My hot tip takes just two words: give blood. You’re probably saying to yourself, “How can a phrase containing the word ‘give’ possibly mean anything but coming away with less than you had before? How can I come out ahead in this?”
It’s like a pot-luck. You bring a bag of potato chips to the family reunion. For that tiny investment, you can eat barbecue, slaw and, most importantly, chocolate cake!

Giving blood is like that. You get your donation back 10 times over. Here’s how it works.
You go down to the Medic office. For most Knox Countians, that’s a drive of a half-hour or less. Then you answer some medical questions, sit back and relax for about 10 minutes. You leave with a T-shirt, beverage and snack, and the warm feeling you get knowing you made a life-saving donation to the area’s vital blood supply. Most people think that’s all there is to it, but they’re leaving out the best part!
Now, I realize that the above scenario omitted a significant technicality. You have to part with a pint of yourself. I understand the uneasy feeling you get thinking of the process itself. Yes, needles, arm soreness and queasiness all come to mind when people think of excuses not to give blood.

But I think mostly folks think it’s just one more annoying thing to remember to do on top of everything else. So I’m here to tell you, the payoff is so worth it!
What You Really Get
OK, let’s talk about the barbecue, slaw and cake.
This is such a steal I don’t know why the workers at Medic aren’t constantly inundated with people. For that one pint of blood you donate, you get free blood for a year. Let me repeat that. Free blood for a year! How amazing is that? You could crash your car next month, end up in the hospital and need 10 pints just the first day! And blood’s not cheap – we’re talking hundreds of dollars here, and most insurance companies don’t pay for it. No worries if you’ve given blood at Medic and have that sweet year-long “insurance policy.” It works at any hospital in the country, too.
Side note: the government says you can’t charge money for blood products, so technically we’re talking about the cost of the fees that go into safely processing that pint you donated. But you get the idea.
And now, back to the infomercial. “Call now. But wait, there’s more!” That deal’s not only for you, but also for your dependents. You heard right. Countless grateful parents throughout East Tennessee have protected their families by donating blood themselves. There’s even a program covering everyone in your business if you can get just 30 percent of your fellow-employees to pony up some of that liquid gold. Talk about bang for the buck!
So don’t worry if being magnanimous isn’t your bag. Think of giving blood more as, well, all about you! For the deal of a lifetime, get yourself on down to Medic or talk to your group leader or boss about a mobile drive. Tell them I sent you!

Medic Regional Blood Center can be reached at 865-524-3074.
Playlist:
1. My Way of Giving — Rod Stewart
2. With Arms Wide Open — Creed
3. Gimme Some Lovin’ — Spencer Davis Group
4. Give It Away — George Strait
5. Giving You the Best That I Got — Anita Baker
6. Man With the Golden Arm — Billy May
7. You Can Have It — Ike & Tina Turner
8. These Arms of Mine — Otis Redding
9. What Do I Get? — The Buzzcocks
10. It’s All About Me — Bratz Soundtrack