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Looking for some ways to help out this weekend? Here’s a roundup of some volunteer and fundraising opportunities in Erie County. If you have any suggestions for future posts, please send me an e-mail at fiona.branton@timesnews.com or drop off your announcement at the Erie Times-News, 205 W. 12th St.

1. Give blood. Memorial Day weekend is traditionally one of the three worst weekends of the year for blood usage, due to all the travel and activities, and it kicks off the unofficial blood shortage season. Help the Community Blood Bank go into the weekend with the blood supply at a high level by donating. The blood bank, at 2646 Peach St., is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  A photo ID is required.

2. Bike Around the Bay. The 11th annual Bike Around the Bay benefiting Environment Erie’s education programs will take place Saturday. Riders can choose among 10-, 30- and 50-mile rides. The rides will begin at 8 and 9 a.m., starting and ending at the Pilot House, 1 Holland St., behind the Intermodal Transportation Center. Day-of-ride registration is $25 for an individual and $45 for families. Call 835-8069 or visit www.environmenterie.org to learn more.

3. Erie Animal Network’s Art for Animals. Have fun and purchase an original piece of art by local professional and amateur artists, Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m., at Performing Artists Collective Alliance, 1505 Peach St. Admission is free; proceeds from the sale help support the Erie Animal Network’s pet food bank and its mission of reuniting lost and found pets with their owners.

4. Rummage sale at Orphan Angels Cat Sanctuary. Find some great stuff — clothing, books, DVDs, knick-knacks, pet items, household goods and more — and help the cats at Orphan Angels. The sale will be held Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m., in the shelter’s parking lot, 5439 West Lake Road.

The Community Blood Bank is celebrating Festivus by giving the first 101 donors on Friday a free large one-topping pizza from Pizza Hut.

The blood bank will have a decorated Festivus pole, miracles (free pizza,) feats of strength (giving blood) and the airing of grievances on Twitter (follow along at @OurDonorsSave.)

“Festivus for the rest of us!” said Dan Desrochers, director of marketing at the blood bank, in a news release. “Thanks to Pizza Hut for such great help this Festivus!”

The Community Blood Bank, located at 2646 Peach St. , will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday.

Festivus pole photo from Wikimedia Commons

Here’s a Black Friday promotion that won’t have long lines.

The Community Blood Bank will give the first 100 donors on Black Friday a coupon for a free dozen of doughnuts from Krispy Kreme.

“Giving blood is one of the best ways to get in the holiday spirit,” said Dan Desrochers, director of marketing at the blood bank, in a news release. “It’s amazing how giving the best gift this holiday season will put some Christmas cheer in your heart.”

The blood bank, located at 2646 Peach St. in Erie, will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday.

The Community Blood Bank urges Erie residents to consider donating blood in light of the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy.

The blood bank is part of a national network of blood centers that may be called upon to assist banks in affected areas.

There are two blood drives planned for today. The first is at Sander’s Market on Route 20 in North East from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The mobile blood bank will be at Edinboro University near McComb Fieldhouse from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Donors can also visit the blood bank at 2646 Peach Street in Erie to give blood. It is open Monday through from from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No appointments are necessary.

Blood donors at the Community Blood Bank during the month of August will be entered to win a trip for four to Walt Disney World in Orlando.

The trip, valued at $4,000 and including airfare, hotel stay and four Park-hopper tickets, is available to donors at the blood bank, at 2646 Peach St., and on a mobile blood drive.

Dan Desrochers, director of marketing at the Community Blood Bank, said the numbers of donors has dropped as the summer has progressed. This promotion seeks to encourage more donors to come in and help assuage the blood supply.

“We can feel summer slipping away,” said Desrochers. “We just hope we can attract enough donors to get us through the critical weeks building up to Labor Day weekend.”

The blood bank is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No appointments are necessary.

Want to go book-less this summer? Donate blood.

The Community Blood Bank is giving away five Amazon Kindle Fires, an e-reader and computer tablet, and $100 Amazon gift cards.

“Everyone wants one of these amazing gadgets,” said Dan Desrochers, director of marketing at the blood bank, in a news release. “And five generous people will win them just for giving blood.”

While the blood bank has avoided the shortages it normally experiences at this time of year, supplies are falling.

New and veteran donors are encourage to visit the Community Blood Bank’s location at 2646 Peach St. The blood bank is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Photo courtesy PC Mag

The Community Blood Bank reported that this June was first in decades without a blood shortage. Pat yourself on the back, Erie.

But due to Independence Day falling on a Wednesday, the blood bank predicts the upcoming week will be one of the worst of the year for the blood supply, said Dan Desrochers, director of marketing at the Community Blood Bank.

In anticipation, the blood bank is teaming up with O’Charley’s to offer a free appetizer certificate to the first 100 donors today.

Appetizers from O’Charleys will be given to donors between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. today. One donor will win a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant at 2077 Interchange Road.

“We are hoping to get enough donors before the holiday because so much can happen during this holiday week,” said Desrochers, in a news release.

The blood bank is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It will be closed on Wednesday in observance of the Fourth of July.

No appointments are necessary, but photo identification is required.

The Community Blood Bank is hoping to speed up the blood donation rate this week in preparation for July 4.

Dan Desrochers, director of marketing at the blood bank, said in an e-mail that the holiday’s falling on a Wednesday this year will hit the blood supply especially hard, as many people plan vacations around it.

In preparation, the Community Blood Bank and the Lake Erie Speedway have teamed up to give every donor this week a six-pack of tickets to the races on July 7. Donors will also be entered to win VIP passes to a box and Lake Erie Speedway gear.

“We are so grateful to the Lake Erie Speedway for stepping up like this,”
said Desrochers, in a news release. “They truly understand the importance of supporting the local community.”

To receive the tickets, donors must visit the Community Blood Bank’s location at 2646 Peach St. The blood bank is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. No appointments are necessary.

The gastronomically brave will attempt the Jog N Hog race at Presque Isle State Park on Saturday.

The race kicks off at 8:30 a.m. Participants will run two miles, eat six Stanganelli’s pepperoni balls and then run (or hobble) two more miles.

Proceeds from the race go to the Community Blood Bank. Learn more here. Registration closes Wednesday at midnight.

For those with weaker stomachs, the blood bank is offering coupons for six pepperoni balls to all blood donors this week. Donors can also snack on the balls after they give blood.

One donor will win a cooler filled with Stanganelli’s favorites.

“This is terrific having a local favorite helping us out,” said Dan Desrochers, director of marketing at the Community Blood Bank, in a news release. “We are dependent on local donors to maintain a safe blood supply and we thank Stanganelli’s for their help encouraging them to come and give blood.”

The blood supply remains low. Desrochers said that as the summer progresses the supply will deplete further.

To donate blood, visit the Community Blood Bank at 2646 Peach St. in Erie. The bank is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Community Blood Bank is sponsoring two promotions this month to encourage blood donation.

Summer is tough on the blood supply, said Dan Desrochers, director of marketing and community relations at the blood bank. Donations are typically light, and usage is heavy.

“I love summer in Northwest Pennsylvania but I dread the blood shortages that comes with it,” said Desrochers, in an e-mail.

To assuage the blood shortage, the blood bank has partnered with the Erie SeaWolves. This week, all blood donors at the Community Blood Bank receive a voucher for a pair of tickets to the Blood Donor Appreciation Night game on June 20.

One lucky donor will win a club box for eight people and get to throw the first pitch of the game.

The blood bank is also entering all donors before June 26 in a raffle for a pair of tickets to see Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on June 30.

Donors at Erie County Mobile blood drives are entered to win another pair of tickets. A list of blood drives can be found at www.ourdonorssavelives.org.

The winner of the concert tickets will be announced on June 27 on Country 98.

The Community Blood Bank is located at 2646 Peach St. in Erie. Donation hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Photo identification is required.