Wanna get people to start a movement? Make it cool. And these days, nothing says “cool” quite like going viral on TikTok.
This was the exact recipe for success used by the American Red Cross to get more blood donations.
In a partnership with the ever popular “Peanuts,” the foundation announced that anyone who donated blood by Apr 23, 2023 would receive a t-shirt featuring (let’s be honest) everyone’s favorite character from the comic—Snoopy.
Not only Snoopy, but Snoopy in his coolest form…Joe Cool.
The t-shirt also has the words “Be cool. Give blood.” I mean, the American Red Cross has created other t-shirts as a donation incentive in the past, but the planets really aligned in the making of this one.
Folks on TikTok have gone absolutely crazy for it, with users on the platform sharing how they procured their own hot ticket item.
@staytunednbc A #Snoopy shirt is going viral on TikTok and is increasing the amount of blood donations, according to the #RedCross. The #Peanuts ♬ original sound – R. Mac Lewis
As a result, more and more people have learned about the blood donation process and became donors themselves.
According to CNN, donations have risen more than 40% thanks to the campaign, which is especially good news considering that 2021 was the country’s worst blood shortage in over a decade.
@fourr_eyess The American Red Cross really popped off with this one #americanredcross #giveblood #fyp #joecool ♬ Berry Pie – Dolly Parton
COVID 19 exacerbated this, of course. But current donor restrictions also play a huge factor. Under current guidelines, gay and bisexual men are required to abstain from sex for three weeks prior to donating—a rule that has been criticized as discriminatory towards men who have sex with other men. Advocates in LGBTQ+ community fought for a change to the rule, and in January the USFDA proposed eliminating the prior guidelines and instead focusing on individual risk factors. While the proposal has not yet been finalized, having more eligible donors could certainly help increase numbers.
And Snoopy t-shirts help too. Obviously.
Wanna be cool, donate blood and get your own t-shirt? You can schedule an appointment with the Red Cross here.