Pediatric patients in area hospitals and care facilities will be the recipients of plush stuffed animals in the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas' (CBCC) Seventh Annual ‘Puppies for Patients’ program which runs Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2011.

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is kicking off the 2011 holiday season with its annual ‘Puppies for Patients’ program whereby donors who give blood in November and December will be able to sign a tag that will then be attached to a stuffed puppy and delivered to children in area hospitals.

“Together with our donors, supporters and community partners over the past six years, we have reached thousands of children being treated in area hospitals with stuffed animal puppies,” said Martin Grable, president and CEO of Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. “This program has become a meaningful tradition among our supporters as we team up to collect blood to save local lives while giving children comfort and a little cheer during their hospital stay this holiday season.”

As the primary blood supplier to 21 hospitals in the region, CBCC relies on volunteer blood donors and local organizations to help fulfill the need for blood for local patients. In fact, one local children’s hospital alone requires nearly 300 red blood cells and more than 200 platelets each month. CBCC is asking anyone in generally good health, over the age of 16 and who weighs at least 120 pounds to donate blood this holiday season and help save the lives of local patients, many of them children.

Businesses, churches and organizations interested in hosting a blood drive in November and December, can call Kim Jones 704-972-4727. Individuals interested in donating blood can do so at a community blood drive. There are also CBCC donor centers located at: 4447 South Boulevard in Charlotte; 363 Church Street North Suite 170 in Concord; 2524 East Franklin Blvd Suite E in Gastonia; and 600 Hospital Drive in Monroe.