It seems that cookies just will not cut it anymore.

Cascade Regional Blood Services has stepped up its incentives by partnering with local establishments the Swiss Pub and Harmon Brewery and Restaurant to host a “Pint-for-a-Pint Blood Drive.” Each registered donor at the drive receives a pre-paid coupon for one pint of beer at The Swiss. However, donors must wait four hours after they donate to redeem their beverage.

Jamie Pernaa, a community relations specialist at Cascade, said the group decided to bring back the event after it proved to be successful last year. This year, Cascade held the event in October at the Swiss. On Dec. 18, the event took place in front of the Harmon.

Tacoma resident Robert Cohee and his wife, Sharon, were on their way to lunch at the Harmon when they decided to donate their time and blood.

“We eat there (the Harmon) all the time and decided to stop by because it was a Friday and it was just convenient,” he said.

Robert said he is not scared of needles anymore because he has donated several times to mobile blood banks in Wright Park.

This was Sharon’s first time donating blood. She said the experience was pleasant and that she will probably do it again.

The Cohees are just two of the 15 donors Cascade hoped to attract during this event. Last fall, Pernaa said the event attracted about 20 donors. The suggested wait time between blood donations is 56 days, so that means prospective donors seeking brew coupons must wait that allotted time before they visit Cascade again.  

Inspiration for the Pint-for-a-Pint event came during a brainstorming session among Cascade workers. Pernaa said the group was looking for something fun to host and to build upon partnerships with local restaurants and businesses.

Upon pitching this idea around to businesses, Pernaa said the Swiss was the first one to step up.

“Jack, who is the owner, has been great,” Pernaa said. “It has been a fun event for us and the restaurants.”

Although a sluggish economy has hit Cascade’s business partners hard this year, Pernaa said there has not been any change in blood donations, mostly because there is no financial benefit to give.

 The success of Pint-for-a-Pint will most likely mean the event will be sticking around. Pernaa said Cascade plans to continue the drives through the holidays - when donations are highest.

“We always have high-school drives and drives at churches and places like that,” he said. “People should try to come out and participate if they can because it’s the right thing to do for the community.”