A blood drive will be held the next two Saturdays in Pearl River County to not only increase the stock of life saving blood, but also raise funds for the Puttin on the Pink Breast Cancer Foundation.

Kristi Womack, account representative for the Blood Center, said there will be two dates to allow everyone in Pearl River County to participate. This year’s drive will take the place of the annual Battle of the Badges blood drive, and instead focus on helping the local breast cancer foundation. Puttin on the Pink provides mammograms, assists with travel expenses and provides other financial assistance to local people who are battling breast cancer.

Blood drives are used to account for seasonal shortages. Womack said that shortages of blood donations typically occur in the summer and winter months when people go on vacation. The past two years, she’s noticed that the shortages are occurring earlier, possibly due to the increase in instances where people needed more than two or three units of blood.

She said that local first responder agencies are spreading the word about the upcoming blood drives in an effort to get the most participation. The blood types needed most are O negative, B negative and A negative.

This Saturday, a drive will be held in Picayune from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Friendship Park, located at 1701 S. Haugh Ave.

On May 4, another drive will be held in Poplarville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at City Park, located at 400 Highway 26 E.

Each person who donates blood will receive a T-shirt and for each unit donated the Blood Center will donate $5 to Puttin on the Pink. Potential donors can make an appointment by visiting www.thebloodcenter.org.

Womack said that first time donors will receive a donor card in the mail, typically up to 18 weeks after the donation is given. However, if that person would like to know their cholesterol level and blood type within 72 hours after making their donation, they can find that information by logging onto the website.