LifeShare Blood Center is kicking off Mardi Gras season in the ArkLaTex in a way that blends local tradition, community spirit, and lifesaving impact—and we’d love for you to consider sharing it with your audience.

On January 22–23, donors at LifeShare’s Shreveport and Bossier City donor centers will receive a free king cake from Lilah’s Bakery and a limited-edition Mardi Gras donor shirt as part of LifeShare’s annual King Cake Promotion. The event celebrates community while addressing the ongoing need for blood donations across the region. And to make saving lives even sweeter, we have an exclusive offer for Type O blood donors.

This year’s event adds a competitive, community angle: LifeShare has partnered with the Krewe of Demeter and they are challenging local Mardi Gras krewes to donate blood and compete for a Spirit of Giving Award, bestowed by the Krewe of Demeter upon the Mardi Gras krewe with the most donations given, highlighting how Carnival spirit can translate into real impact.

This is one of LifeShare’s most anticipated donor events of the year and offers strong visual and human-interest elements—local partnerships, Mardi Gras culture, and everyday heroes stepping up to save lives.

Full details are in the attached press release. Please consider sharing this with your audience — every donor makes a difference for local patients. We welcome your help in spreading the word to encourage blood donations during this vital time.

For interviews, additional information, or to schedule a visit to a blood drive, please contact the Regional Director of our Shreveport & Bossier centers, Megen Risinger, at megen.risinger@lifeshare.org. Our Shreveport donor center is located at 8910 Linwood Avenue, Shreveport, LA and our Bossier donor center is located at 1523 Doctors Lane, Bossier City, LA. You may also contact me directly at mandi.johnson@lifeshare.org or 318-671-5850.