GRAND RAPIDS, MI (APRIL 12, 2010): Do you have some unwanted items sitting around the house? Do the green thing by recycling it with the help of Michigan Blood and Goodwill. To celebrate Earth Day, the two organizations are joining forces to host a series of “Recycle Yourself” blood drives in 5 locations across the state during the week of April 19.

Goodwill and Michigan Blood will be collecting donated items at Michigan Blood locations in St. Joseph and Portage on Tuesday, April 20 and in Grand Rapids, Saginaw, and Traverse City on Thursday, April 22. Goodwill will recycle all items that they cannot resell in their retail stores.

Any healthy person 17 or older who weighs 110 pounds or more may be eligible to donate blood every 56 days. Donors should remember to bring photo ID (or two pieces of non-photo ID). Each pint of donated blood may help as many as three people.

“Blood is a renewable resource,” said Kristen Sisson, Public Relations Supervisor West for Michigan Blood. “That resource is a lifesaving gift for patients across Michigan. We hope this effort with Goodwill will encourage everyone to think about all the good they can do for the environment and for Michigan by donating blood and their unwanted items.”

About Recycle Yourself in Grand Rapids

• Grand Rapids Main Donor Center, 1036 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids
• Thursday, April 22 - 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Free food for donors courtesy of Famous Dave’s.
• Everyone who attempts to donate blood will receive a free T-shirt.
• WYCE will broadcast live throughout the day.
• Goodwill will accept donations.

About Recycle Yourself in Portage

• Kalamazoo Area Donor Center, 542 East Milham Ave, Portage
• Tuesday, April 20 - Noon to 7 p.m.
• Free hot dogs and chips for donors.
• Everyone who attempts to donate blood will receive a free T-shirt.
• WIDR will broadcast live from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• Goodwill will accept donations

About Recycle Yourself in St. Joseph

• St. Joseph Main Donor Center, 2710 Cleveland Ave, St. Joseph
• Tuesday, April 20 - Noon to 7 p.m.
• Free hot dogs and chips for donors.
• Everyone who attempts to donate blood will receive a free T-shirt.
• Goodwill will accept donations

About Recycle Yourself in Saginaw

• Saginaw Main Donor Center, 1771 Tittabawassee Road, Saginaw
• Thursday, April 22 – 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Free hot dogs and chips for donors.
• Everyone who attempts to donate blood will receive a free T-shirt.
• Goodwill will accept donations.

About Recycle Yourself in Traverse City

• Traverse City Main Donor Center, 2575 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City
• Thursday, April 22 – 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Free hot dogs and chips for donors.
• Everyone who attempts to donate blood will receive a free T-shirt.
• Goodwill will accept donations.

About Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc.

Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives through the power of work.  Since 1966, the organization has offered a wide range of employment and training programs free of charge to assist those with disabilities and other barriers to employment in developing their marketable skills in order to find meaningful employment.  Its efforts are supported by revenues from its 14 retail stores in an eight-county area, as well as from monetary donations.  For more information, visit http://www.goodwillgr.org.

About Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan

Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan is all about people working. They provide education, training and employment services to people who live with disabling conditions and other special needs to maximize their employment potential. Individuals are taught vital transferable work skills and given the tools they need to succeed in the workplace.  Revenue from their retail outlets provides wages, job training and other services that directly impact this community in a positive way. In the end, these funds are channeled back into the community in the form of taxes paid and the purchase of goods and services.  For more information, visit http://www.goodwillswmi.org.

About Goodwill Industries of Mid-Michigan

Goodwill Industries of Mid-Michigan, Inc. has a proud history dating back to 1931 when Oak Park Methodist Church Minister John Martin sought assistance for the area through the establishment of an agency devoted to serving the needs of people with disabilities. Today, Goodwill Industries serves people who face a variety of barriers to employment, including physical or mental disabilities, illiteracy, substance abuse, inadequate education, ex-felons, and welfare dependency. The ultimate goal is to place individuals in productive employment. For more information, visit http://www.goodwillmidmichigan.org.

About Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan

Goodwill is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that strives to develop programs and services that improve peoples lives by fostering self-sufficiency, a hand up, not a hand out. Goodwill's goal is to assist individuals and families overcome barriers to independence. For more information, visit http://www.goodwillnmi.org.

About Michigan Blood

Founded in 1955, Michigan Blood is an independent, nonprofit, community service organization that is the provider of choice for blood and blood products for hospitals across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Michigan Blood is committed to serving the needs of Michigan hospital facilities first. In addition to its blood donation program, Michigan Blood offers a number of different services, including a cord blood bank, marrow/stem cell program, transfusion medicine consultation, transplant center support, and other programs. For more information, visit www.miblood.org.