CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Pints for turkeys: Greenburg's annual blood drive a success

Pints for turkeys: Greenburg's annual blood drive a success

by Michele Reese

TYLER (KYTX) - Give a pint of blood, get a turkey. It's a promotion that's enticing hundreds of East Texans to donate blood. CBS 19's Michele Reese has more on how the program started and why the need is growing.

Sam Greenberg started the event four years ago because an employee at his business was always donating blood. So, he decided to donate his famous turkeys to encourage others to do the same.

It's a busy time at Greenberg's Smoked Turkeys in Tyler, as hundreds of people line up to buy the famous bird for Thanksgiving. Across town, another line is forming for these turkeys - but cash won't work here. They only accept blood.

"My mother wanted a Greenberg turkey so I thought I would come donate blood and get her a turkey," said one donor we talked to.

Sam Greenberg started a turkey-for-blood drive four years ago, and it draws hundreds of people to donate. "My wife said, 'go get me a turkey', so I said OK, I'll do it," said another donor.  

The line started at Harvey Hall well before the doors opened at 10:00 am. Some blood donors said they weren't expecting to wait in line. The event has grown over the years. When it began, Greenberg donated 300 turkeys. By the end of tomorrow, more than 1,200 will be given away.

"It helps a whole lot of people who need blood and it comes at the time of year when blood donations are down, so it's a win-win for everybody," said Greenberg. He also says it's his way of giving back to a community that made his turkeys legendary.

"They bought them from my grandfather, bought them from my father and they are buying them from our family still," said Greenburg.  And, it's a way for the community to give back, too.

"Giving blood is the most important thing, hopefully someone else could use my blood and it will help them," said another donor.  

One pint of blood can save up to three lives, so throughout today and tomorrow, three thousand people can be touched by this blood drive. You can still donate until eight PM Monday night, or make it to Harvey Hall in Tyler on Tuesday between 10:00 am and 8:00 PM.