ST. LOUIS – The American Red Cross hosted its 2nd Annual Battle of the Breweries Blood Drive at nine different locations throughout the St. Louis Metro Area. 

Donors were invited to vote for their favorite local brewery from 26 participating locations and receive a coupon for a free pint of beer at the brewery they selected.   

FOX 2 spoke with donors at the Mid-County YMCA in Brentwood about this event and what giving blood means to them.

“I have a five-year-old son who’s going through chemotherapy treatments,” said Emily, a first-time donor. “I am giving blood for him.”

“It helps people to be able to do it,” explained Brad Niermen, a frequent donor. “It doesn’t take much of my time or my day to be able to do this on a regular basis.”

The initiative proved fruitful as nearly 240 units of blood were donated and the Schlafly Bottleworks in Maplewood won the popular vote.