Two Chester County Ford dealerships helped collect 282 pints of blood for the American Red Cross during nine drives held across the Fred Beans Automotive Group in July.
Fred Beans Ford in West Goshen Township, at 1155 West Chester Pike, and Fred Beans Ford in West Whiteland Township were among nine Fred Beans locations that hosted drives throughout the month as part of Ford Motor Company's "Building Together — Summer of Community Impact" campaign, the Daily Local reported. The final drive wrapped up July 30.
Ford tapped 250 dealerships nationwide for the initiative, which was launched to mark America's 250th birthday. Participating dealers could choose from several charities; Fred Beans picked the Red Cross because of a longstanding relationship with the nonprofit.
"We appreciated the opportunity and were proud to involve all eight of our Ford dealerships and our Lincoln dealership in the Summer of Community Impact," Beth Beans Gilbert, vice president of Fred Beans Automotive Group, said. "Ford's Chief Dealer Engagement Officer, Elena Ford, had a vision to celebrate our country's birthday at the dealership level, where we could make each community we serve even stronger through our charitable events."
As a donor incentive, Fred Beans' mobile service team offered a free oil change or tire rotation at each site.
Seventy mobile services were completed across the nine locations.
The 282 pints bring Fred Beans' lifetime Red Cross donations to 2,588 units. The company holds Premier Partner status with the organization.
Blood supply critically low
The drives came during a period of acute need. The Red Cross declared a national blood crisis in late July, only the second such declaration in its history, after donations fell to a four-year summer low and the supply of type O positive blood dropped below a one-day supply.
Paul Sullivan, senior vice president of donor services for the Red Cross, said in a July 27 statement that "unique challenges" had strained the supply and estimated that just three additional donors at each summer blood drive could help stabilize it through the rest of the season.
How to donate
Chester County residents who want to give blood can visit the West Chester Blood Donation Center at 1065 Andrew Drive. The center is open Monday through Thursday, 11:45 a.m. to 7:45 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 7:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments can be booked at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767. Donors who give through Aug. 31 receive a $20 Amazon gift card by email.
