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Blood Drive Organizers Say Nut To Delay...Donate Now!

Brian Bull
/
KLCC

Reports of a six-and-a-half ton peanut rolling through Eugene have proven true. No, it’s not a new ridesharing company called “Goober”…rather, it’s a nutty draw for a more serious cause. KLCC’s Brian Bull cracks the story.

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
/
KLCC
Bloodworks hopes the Nutmobile attracts people who are nuts for kindness. Especially as the pandemic slogs on and looming winter weather means more perilous travel conditions.

Bloodworks Northwest says between the pandemic and colder weather, there’s greater need for blood donors. But headed into Thanksgiving, they’re 500 appointments shy of expectations.

Which is where the PlantersNUTmobile comes in. Tyler Towne, one of several so-called “Peanutters” shows off the 26-foot long legume, parked outside Crossfire Church.

“We are up over about 170,000 miles over the past six years drawing people to these events, for a blood drive, because we know it’s such a crucial thing that’s going on in our world today,” Towne told KLCC.

Mark Smith of Bloodworks Northwest added COVID-19 protocols are being observed.

“We sanitize everything, we wipe down all the beds, everything, so it’s a very safe environment.  And it’s just an hour of their time, and after an hour you’ve impacted up to three lives.”

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
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KLCC
Mark Smith of Bloodworks Northwest (center) with the Peanutters outside Crossfire Church in Eugene earlier today.

Bloodworks’s pop-up site at Crossfire is taking appointments through Saturday. They hope to cashew later, so you’d butter go nuts and make that call.

Copyright 2020, KLCC.
 

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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