Panera Bread wants to “Share the Bread” with New Hampshire blood donors this June. That’s why all eight of the bakery-cafes in the Granite State are offering up a sweet deal to those who come in to donate blood during the month. The first 7,500 presenting donors who come to a mobile drive or the donor center in Manchester from June 1-June 30 will receive a $5 coupon good for use after 4pm at any New Hampshire location. These include Nashua (Amherst St. and Spit Brook Rd), Manchester, Bedford, Portsmouth, Concord, West Lebanon, and Keene.

Panera is also inviting donors to share their Sundays as selected bakery-cafes will be hosting mobile drives at their locations on the following dates:

June 1st: Bedford (7 Colby Court) 12-5pm
June 8th: Portsmouth (1465 Woodbury Ave) 12-5pm
June 22nd: Nashua (590 Amherst Street) 12-5pm

“We are excited to partner with the Red Cross for the month of June,” noted David Peterman, franchise owner of Panera Bread in New Hampshire. “This promotion is a great way to thank donors and help to increase the blood supply during the summer months when supplies are often at such low levels. We also look forward to inviting blood donors into our cafes to use their coupons and discover the enjoyable dinner experience that Panera provides.”

The summer months are a traditionally challenging time for the American Red Cross to collect blood, as many people are away on vacation, and schools and colleges are not in session. In spite of these challenges, however, the demand for blood remains constant and can only be met by caring volunteer donors.

“The Red Cross is grateful to Panera for generously providing all who come to give the gift of life with coupons to their cafes,” said Donna M. Morrissey, Director of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs for the American Red Cross Northeast Division. “A sufficient blood supply is a community-wide responsibility and we thank Panera Bread for helping to ensure blood will be available when it is needed.”

Donated blood may be used to help accident victims, trauma patients, transplant recipients, and those suffering from life threatening illnesses. The only source for blood is a healthy volunteer blood donor. One donation can help to save the lives of up to three patients in need.

About Panera Bread:
The nation’s “bread expert,” Panera Bread offers a variety of artisan breads and other specialty breads, along with bagels, pastries, baked goods, and hot and cold espresso beverages. The New Hampshire bakery-cafes are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering hand-tossed salads, signature sandwiches and hearty soups served in edible sourdough bread bowls.

Panera Bread serves fresh baked, handcrafted artisan breads, sweet and savory baked goods, hand-tossed salads, wholesome soups, and signature sandwiches in a distinctly warm and welcoming environment. Panera Bread is committed to using great tasting, quality ingredients in the food we offer and contributing to the neighborhoods in which our customers and employees live and work through programs like Operation Dough-Nation®. Headquartered in Richmond Heights, MO, Panera Bread owns and franchises 1,185 bakery-cafes under the Panera Bread® and Saint Louis Bread Co.® names as of March 25, 2008.

Mitchell Roberts and David Peterman are partners in PR Restaurants, LLC, which operates 27 franchise Panera Bread locations in Massachusetts (Beverly, Chelmsford, Framingham, Leominster, North Andover, East Longmeadow, Shrewsbury, Woburn, Marlborough, Hadley, West Springfield, Chicopee, Westborough, Pittsfield, and Natick), New Hampshire (Bedford, Concord, Keene, Manchester, Nashua, North Nashua, Portsmouth, and West Lebanon), and Maine (South Portland, Augusta, Westbrook, and Biddeford).