Red Cross and Wisconsin State Fair team up for 3 community blood drives

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Red Cross and Wisconsin State Fair are teaming up to help fill the ever-present need for blood donations. 

The first-ever Share-the-Fair blood drive was held Monday, July 21, in Oak Creek. 

People who came to donate blood or platelets went home with a free general admission ticket to the Wisconsin State Fair. 

Monday's event was the first of three Share-the-Fair days, but as one collection specialist told us, that's not the only time you can make those lifesaving donations.

"We have blood drives five days a week, and there's usually three or four, depending on where we're at," Collection Specialist Jeremiah Hendricks said. "We have groups in Green Bay, Madison, we go all the way over here. We always have promotions. Right now, we have State Fair tickets, sometimes we have sunglasses, we have some random things we do."

Monday's Share-the-Fair drive at the Homewood Suites in Oak Creek lasts until 6 p.m.

Two more will be held at the following locations:

• Thursday, July 24, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  The Ingleside Hotel - 2810 Golf Rd., Pewaukee
• Wednesday, July 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  Wauwatosa Public Library - 7635 W North Ave., Wauwatosa