DUNCAN, Okla. (KSWO) – The Our Blood Institute helped support a nonprofit in Duncan thanks to the help of the community donating blood Tuesday.

The Donable Cares program allowed blood donors to donate on behalf of a nonprofit, earning the organization a monetary kickback. The money earned increases based on how long it has been since a person last donated. The blood drive earned $1,200 for the Charis Center.

“Well, we’re very excited they contacted us about doing a blood drive and saving lives and that’s what our center is all about and so we were just humbled and honored to be a part of it. I was a first-time blood donor, actually,” said Kimberla Treat, executive director for Charis Center.

“Whenever people are donating blood sometimes they need more motivation to donate blood just for the fact that they’re saving people’s lives. This is something else that they can do, let’s say, double impact is what we call it. Not only are they saving people’s lives through blood donation but they’re also able to help impact by funding the non-profit of their choice. It’s a way for you to fund the non-profit without actually opening up your wallet to do so,” said Jonathan Timms, account consultant for OBI.

Officials with OBI said they are always looking for more blood and platelet donations and are hosting blood drives throughout the month across Southwest Oklahoma in collaboration with local nonprofits.

A local Duncan business owner pledged to double the amount earned during the drive, bringing the total to $2,400 for the center.

“You save, you know, lives every time you donate, you know, three plus lives. It’s just-it’s a pretty cool thing to be able to, you know-especially with Charis here, you know, we save babies’ lives here and then we save other people lives with blood donations so it’s a win hand-to-hand, and that was a cool thing,” said Mason Snider, business owner of Catalyst Nutrition & Fitness.

The Charis Center thanked the community for blood donations and invited people to their annual fundraiser named “Comedy & Coffee + Cake” Nov. 13 at Simmons Center at 6 p.m.