Community Blood Centers Asking Community to Help Feed the Needy.

LAUDERHILL, Fla. -- Community Blood Centers of South Florida (CBCSF) has partnered with Daily Bread Food Bank to collect canned and non-perishable food items during the month of November. New, unopened food items may be dropped off in any of CBCSF's sixteen branches in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

According to CBCSF president, Dr. Charles Rouault, "With branches located in so many communities from Homestead to Palm Beach Gardens, we felt this would be a wonderful way to support the efforts of the Daily Bread Food Bank, which distributes food to local groups that feed needy and homeless children and families, the physically and mentally ill and challenged, the elderly, and people living with HIV/AIDS, among others."

Adds Rouault, "Every day we receive voluntary blood donations from hundreds of men, women and teenagers who care about helping others in our community. It is a pleasure to open our doors to other organizations that also depend on the generosity of South Florida's residents, including our committed blood donors."

The food drive will also help to expose non-donors to CBCSF and blood donation. The fact remains that only about 5% of men, women and teenagers who can donate blood actually do so, yet the need for blood and blood components (platelets, plasma and red cells) is constant. The best way to ensure an adequate daily blood supply for all of the hospitals in South Florida is for more people to donate, and for current donors to donate as often as they are eligible to do so.

Community Blood Centers of South Florida, Inc., a non-profit organization, is the supplier of 75% of the blood used for medical care in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. CBCSF has 40 blood mobiles serving Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys, seven days a week. There are also 17 branches located from Key West to Palm Beach Gardens, where donors can walk in or give by appointment in a comfortable environment equipped with televisions, movies and refreshments. Lunch is also available to platelet and plasma donors who donate weekdays.

To schedule a blood drive at a place of business or worship, or to learn more about blood donation, please call 800-357-4483 or visit www.cbcsf.org . For more information on Daily Bread Food Bank, visit www.dailybread.org.