For the past 13 years, the Oklahoma Pork Council and the Oklahoma Blood Institute have teamed up for the annual Memorial Day Blood Drive held during the last week of May. This year’s event included the theme “Give Local” where 1,697 donors were accounted for at the OBI buildings and busses around the state. A total of 3,741 lives were saved.

Donors could give blood at Tinker Federal Credit Union in Moore, at Cabela’s in northern OKC, or at any OBI building in the state. A new menu of pork sliders and pork carnitas were also served to donors in appreciation for giving blood, along with a free “Go Pig or Go Home!” t-shirt and vouchers to the Science Museum of Oklahoma. All donors were entered into a raffle to win a smoker.

“The dedication and support of the Oklahoma Pork Council made it possible for the Oklahoma Blood Institute to ensure there would be enough blood to supply area hospitals through the Memorial Day weekend,” Billy Hendrix, OBI events manager said. “Oklahoma Blood Institute is grateful for the commitment to this event from everyone at the Oklahoma Pork Council. Your tremendous support made event a great success.”

okPORK employees and board members were involved at the event by cooking and serving pork at mobile drives, speaking on radio remotes and even taking part in the donating process.

“It is a priority of okPORK to provide assistance where there is need and we know how critical donating blood is in Oklahoma,” said Roy Lee Lindsay, Executive Director at okPORK. “The blood drive is important because it saves lives and allows okPORK to reach out to the community.”

If you would like to read more about okPORK events and get more information on the Oklahoma Pork Council, visit www.okpork.org.