A Kansas City ice cream company is sweetening the deal for local blood donors.

Besides helping save a life, donors will get a pint of ice cream, ice cream sandwiches or other ice cream snacks.

Blue Bell Ice Cream has partnered with Kansas City’s Community Blood Centers for the annual “Pint-for-Pint” blood drive from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. That includes the Lawrence center, 1410 Kasold Drive, Suite 6.

Historically, Memorial Day through Labor Day is a particularly tough time to recruit blood donors because of vacations and other summertime activities. Summer blood donations decrease about 20 percent while demand for blood increases.

For more information, contact the Lawrence center at 843-5383.