SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Considering the minimum age for donating blood is 17, an elementary school might seem an odd location for a blood drive.

Until you consider the ice cream.

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers will host a drive from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday at Rockwell Elementary School, and any student who brings a donor receives an invitation to an ice cream party.

“How can you say no to something like that,” said Marty Higginbotham, visiting Spanish Fort from Meridian, Miss.

“I give blood, and she gets ice cream. I can live with that,” said Higginbotham, whose granddaughter attends Rockwell.

After several wintry weather episodes across the southeast left supplies depleted in January – coincidentally National Donor Awareness Month – LifeSouth is in need of all blood types. For those in a rush, a sign-up sheet with scheduled times is available in the Rockwell office.

As the largest blood bank in Alabama, LifeSouth is the sole provider of blood and blood products for Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, North Baldwin Infirmary in Bay Minette and six high-volume hospitals across Mobile County. The nonprofit blood bank serves Alabama, Georgia and Florida, entering the local market in October 2007.

Anyone in good health who weighs at least 110 pounds and is 17 or older may donate. Sixteen-year-olds meeting the other requirements may also donate with on-site parental permission, and all donors must present photo identification.