Sometimes I look for what blood bank offers the best swag before deciding when and where to donate blood.

Over the years, I have received coupons for free movie rentals from Hollywood Video; coupons for many AMC chain movie tickets; coupons for several Regal Theaters movie tickets; a few Darden's Restaurants gift cards; caps; a few dozen T-shirts; a cooler bag; a Perkin's Family Restaurant entree coupon; and some other stuff.

Check out our local blood banks with a Google search with Ocala and/or Leesburg and donating blood. You should get an idea of what kind of swag the various competing blood banks offer. Florida Blood Centers and Lifesouth are the two closest blood banks which compete for donors here in the Villages. There is also Florida Blood Services which is in the Tampa/St. Pete area.