KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI) — MEDIC Regional Blood Center is partnering with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library through its Skip the Gift promotion during September and October 2026, giving blood donors an opportunity to support childhood literacy while helping meet the region’s blood supply needs.
Under the program, donors who give blood at any MEDIC donor center or mobile blood drive can choose to skip receiving a donor T-shirt or monthly incentive. For every gift declined, MEDIC will donate $5 to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The initiative is designed to honor the legacy of East Tennessee native Dolly Parton while supporting the internationally recognized literacy program that provides free books to children from birth through age five.
MEDIC officials say the Skip the Gift effort has become an effective way to support local nonprofit organizations. Through August 2026, the blood center had raised more than $15,000 for regional charities through the program.
The promotion runs throughout September and October at MEDIC donor centers and mobile blood drives across East Tennessee. While appointments are not required, donors are encouraged to schedule a donation in advance through MEDIC’s website.
MEDIC serves as the primary blood product provider for 24 hospitals and air medical transport services across 23 counties. The organization supplies blood products to facilities including Blount Memorial Hospital, Covenant Health System hospitals, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Tennova Healthcare hospitals, and the University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Donors interested in participating can find donation center information, mobile drive locations, and appointment scheduling options at http://www.medicblood.org.
By combining blood donation with charitable giving, MEDIC hopes to support both lifesaving medical care and childhood literacy programs that benefit families throughout the region.
