For the second consecutive year, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que and Carter BloodCare are teaming up in the true spirit of giving this holiday season. The partnered organizations are appealing to North and East Texans to donate blood this fall as the community blood supply has dropped to an unprecedented low.
Carter BloodCare officials note they have not seen such a chronic resource scarcity in their more
than 30 years of experience. First-time and lapsed volunteer donors are urgently needed to pump new blood into the local supply to save the lives of Texas patients.
To support the community, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que and Carter BloodCare will hold mobile blood drives at the famed restaurant’s 18 locations in November. As a thank you, donors who give at any Carter BloodCare blood drive or donor center in November will receive a coupon for $2 off any $10 purchase from Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, while supplies last.
“We at Soulman’s have always been encouraged by the generosity of our guests and extended Soulman’s family. This holiday season, it is vital to spread the spirit of giving and Carter BloodCare provides one of the most impactful gifts that affects local lives daily,” said Brett Randle, CEO of Soulman’s Bar-B-Que.
Organizers hope to see at least 50 donors per day during the November drive. Each donated pint can help save three lives, meaning the drive can potentially and positively affect 2,700 patients.
Carter BloodCare President and CEO Dr. Merlyn Sayers said, “A key reason people cite for not 
donating blood is that no one asked them to do so. Thousands of qualified people have never been invited to give blood. Together, Carter BloodCare and Soulman’s Bar-B-Que now ask fellow Texans to donate with friends and family, because blood donation as a community is more important than ever to help local patients who depend on all of us.”
“We are excited to participate for a second year to support Carter BloodCare on this important initiative. The Soulman’s family invites our guests to join us in rebuilding this lifesaving community resource,” Randle said.
Schedule of mobile blood drives in our area:
- Garland: Monday, Nov. 15, 1 – 6 p.m.
- Mesquite: Friday, Nov. 12, noon – 5 p.m.
- Rockwall (I-30 and Ridge Road): Tuesday, Nov. 23, 4 – 6:30 p.m.
- Rockwall (Goliad): Friday, Nov. 12, 1 – 6 p.m.
Donors are encouraged to make appointments in advance.
Carter BloodCare staff and unvaccinated donors are required to wear facial coverings at the blood drives, except when temperature is taken during screening, or when eating and drinking after the donation. Vaccinated donors are strongly encouraged to continue wearing masks.
Blood donors may volunteer at age 16 with parental consent; 17-year-olds can give independently. There is no upper age limit. For more information on eligibility and to make an appointment, call 1-800-366-2834 or visit CarterBloodCare.org.
About Soulman’s Bar-B-Que: For more than 45 years, Soulman’s Bar-B-Que has satisfied the hardest to please bar-b-que lovers – Texans! Founded in Pleasant Grove, Texas, in 1974, Soulman’s had only a few simple goals—serve great Texas-style BBQ and offer friendly, sincere service. Soulman’s original family recipes are still the foundation for the company’s success from their 8 different types of meat that are smoked “low & slow” over only hickory wood to their famous homemade sides, including Ranch house beans and Texas style cream corn! Throughout the years, this family-owned and operated company has remained true to its original strive for success and customer satisfaction and is honored to be considered one of the Top Bar-B-Que Chains in America (2018) and Best Bar-B-Que in Dallas for Takeout & Delivery (2020).
About Carter BloodCare: Carter BloodCare is an independent, community blood center providing transfusion resources to more than 180 medical facilities in 50-plus counties of north, central and East Texas. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 450,000 blood products annually to meet hospitals’ requirements for their patients. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products.