Fountain Hills Noon Kiwanis, the Town of Fountain Hills and Vitalant (formerly United Blood Services) honored two businesses this week for their behind-the-scenes work at each blood drive.

Sofrita and Little Caesar’s Pizza received plaques and special thanks for their part in making giving blood a little more inviting.

At each blood drive, Sofrita provides spinach salads, and Little Caesar’s gives pizzas to blood donors. The food provides nourishment and energy after blood is donated.

Paul Appeldorn, one of the coordinators for Noon Kiwanis, said he thinks the salad and pizza may be the reason some people donate blood.

“These are pretty good treats,” he said. “And we are so glad to have these businesses so dedicated to making our blood drives successful.”

The next blood drive is Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25 and 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Center.

To make an appointment for either day, call Appeldorn at 480-836-8213 or email him at appeldop@hotmail.com; or co-coordinator Dr. Liz Smith, 480-837-2600 (w), 480-837-8110 (h) or 480-206-4785 (c) or email her at no1drliz@gmail.com.

Appointments also may be made by visiting Vitalant’s website, unitedbloodservices.org/AZ. Choose “Kiwanis” as the code.

Blood donations take about an hour total.