American Red Cross Urges Blood Donors to “Fall” into the Habit of Donating
Imagine relaxing at a beautiful bed and breakfast, complete with tranquil gardens, elegant decor and luxury accommodations. You don’t have to simply imagine it - you can live it! Donate blood with the American Red Cross during the month of October and enter to win the “Fall into Donating” grand prize package, which includes two night’s accommodations for two at the 1847 Blake House Inn, a bed and breakfast located in a pastoral section of Asheville, North Carolina, as well as two tickets to the Biltmore Estate.
“The need for blood is ongoing and we at the American Red Cross need your help in order to provide life-saving blood and blood components to local hospital patients,” said Judy Duston, Blood Coordinator for the American Red Cross of Union County. “I would personally encourage everyone to donate blood in order to make our blood supply more stable and readily available. So as you enjoy this autumn season, fall into the habit of donating blood and platelets with your American Red Cross.”
The American Red Cross of Union County will hold multiple blood drives during the month of October, many of which have a special emphasis, such as a plea to type O blood donors, or in honor of a friend or family member who passed away.
The first, on Wednesday, October 3rd from 2:00 to 6:30pm, will take place at the American Red Cross Chapter, located at 608 E. Franklin Street in Monroe, and is sponsored by Hank’s Frozen Custard. The drive is different from ordinary blood drives in that the emphasis is on type O positive and negative blood types. These are the most frequently needed, and there is only half a day’s inventory available, putting it in emergency status. All blood will be accepted at the drive, but since type O is the universal blood group, meaning that it can be transfused to any individual with any blood type, a special plea is going out to type O individuals to come and donate.
Another drive will take place on Sunday, October 7th from 12:30 to 5:00pm at Allen Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department in Wingate. This is a memorial drive, marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Mark Beaver, who passed away from leukemia. Mark’s father, Dennis Beaver, is sponsoring the drive.
A drive on Thursday, October 25th from 2:30 to 7:00pm at Beaver Lane Volunteer Fire Department in Marshville will be the “Crystal Wilson Memorial Drive.” Crystal passed away eight years ago from cancer, and the drive is sponsored by the Beaver Lane Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.
The final memorial drive is on Sunday, October 28th at Mt. Zion Church. This is sponsored by the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority in honor of Joe P. McKinney, who passed away seven years ago from leukemia. His daughter, Veronica McKinney, is a Red Cross volunteer, serves on the Red Cross Blood Committee, and is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho.
Everyone is encouraged to come out and donate blood at these or any of the drives the Red Cross is holding. Every two seconds, someone in the United States requires a blood transfusion, and if everyone donated blood regularly, every 56 days, there would be enough blood to treat those in need.
In order to donate, one must be at least 17 years old, be in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and bring a valid photo ID or an American Red Cross Blood Donor Card. For more information on the American Red Cross of Union County, or for a complete listing of the October blood drives, please contact the chapter at 704-283-7402 for Union County or 704-694-3514 for Anson County, or log-on to www.unioncountyredcross.org.
