Halloween is approaching, and the Durango Bootlegger’s Society wants your blood.
The bootleggers, composed of five local brewing companies, are teaming with United Blood Services for the 11th annual Pint for Pint Blood drive from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Hall, 878 East Second Ave. to collect as much plasma as possible.
For the participant, the trusted format is simple: give a pint of blood and get a voucher for a pint of beer, or another favorite beverage.
Nancy Cumming, a regional representative for United Blood Services in Colorado and Farmington, said while the Pint for Pint is all fun, donating blood is serious business.
“A pint of blood can save three lives,” Cumming said. “They (pints) go to 42 hospitals around the Four Corners.”
She said most of the donated blood is used within three days of being drawn.
“It goes to labs and is tested 13 different ways, then released to the hospitals. We use it as fast as we get it,” she said.
Charlene Smith, a regional spokeswoman for United Blood Services, said they were especially in need of type O blood.
People can sign up at their favorite breweries this week, and after donating Friday they get a voucher for a free pint of their favorite suds.
Kristen Muraro, marketing manager for Ska Brewing Co., the bootleggers originally came up with the idea, and it has since been emulated around the country.
“They look at the success of the bootleggers and copy that model,” she said. “It’s such a fun time. Energetic.”
Last year’s blood drive was the biggest one-day drive in Durango’s history, leading to 100 pints from donors on a single day, Cumming said.
“This year, our goal is 111 pints,” she said. “We’re beginning to have trouble finding a big enough space.”
In fact, the drive’s crafty reputation has spread so far that late night talk show host Jay Leno even joked about it in a monologue around 2003, said Dave Thibodeau, co-founder of Ska Brewing, and news network giant CNN ran information on the beer-for-blood concept, although it missed the catch on the voucher system.
“They thought we were giving beer to people right after they donated,” Cumming said. “It was a misconception.”
Muraro, who will be in the chair donating her share of the red stuff, said people come out to support the cause, and there’s a little “friendly competition” between breweries about who earns bragging rights for the most donations.
“Some years, the loser had to dye their hair red,” she said.
Muraro said Durango’s beer lovers like to show up for the fluid trade-off.
“It’s a craft-beer town, and people like to see the breweries show their support,” Muraro said. “They come out to see us as well as give their blood.”
Erik Maxson, owner of Brew Pub & Kitchen, Durango’s newest brewery, said it’s just another way to get community members involved in something positive.
“Durango is chock full of people trying to so something good,” he said. “The bootleggers were formed with the purpose of doing bigger things than any one of us could do. This puts a spin on it. It’s brilliance on the part of the bootleggers. You do something good, and you get rewarded for it.”
Muraro said it’s a “win-win for everybody.”
“It’s a success for (United Blood Services), the donor gets a free beer and the breweries get people out to see them,” she said. “We work together and everyone comes out ahead.”
bmathis@durangoherald.com
To sign up
The Pint for Pint blood drive is 11 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at the American Legion Hall, 878 East Second Ave. Donors must register at the brewery of their choice, or by phone at (877) 827-4376. United Blood Services will be at four Bootlegger’s Society breweries to register donors from 5 to 7 p.m. on these dates and places:
Monday, Brew Pub and Kitchen, 117 W. College Drive
Tuesday, Durango Brewing Co., 3000 Main Ave.
Wednesday (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.), Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave.
Thursday, Ska Brewing Co., 225 Girard St.
