Yunlin Taoist temple blood drive gives away free lobsters, cabbages to donors

Taipei, Feb. 9 (CNA) A Taoist temple in Yunlin County on Sunday held a blood donation drive in which individuals who gave 250c.c. of blood received a lobster worth NT$1,000 (US$30.45).

Other than the free lobster, donors were also given two cabbages, one salty sponge cake, a bag of ready-to-eat cooked pork jerk, and white fungus canned drinks, among other free giveaways, according to Lin Sheng-hsiung (林勝雄), chair of Guangfu Temple (廣福宮) in Yunlin's Xiluo Township.

All the gifts, including 400 lobster s and 600 kilograms of cabbages, were provided by anonymous donors who wanted to boost awareness of the blood drive, according to Lin.

The latest donation drive was held as reserves in Taichung, Changhua, Nantou and Yunlin cities and counties have fallen to 6.1 days on average, below the officially designated seven-to-10 day safe level.