Red Cross holds Donor’s Recognition Day May 9
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‘We’re going to have cake and refreshments and we hope everyone will come out and donate blood,’ said Red Cross volunteer Carolyn Rankhorn, who announced the event during a blood drive at the Civic Center early in April.
Regional Red Cross blood drive coordinator Stephanie Ezell said she hopes long-time donors will come out for the Recognition Day and show their continued support for the local blood drive program, which is still one of the most vital of the organization’s services.
‘It’s very important,’ said Ezell. ‘We service a large region here. We have a lot of trauma centers and McMinnville has always been one of our prized communities. People here are very good to come out and give blood.’
Two local officials think it’s so important that one, County Executive John Pelham, came out at the April blood drive to give for the first time, while the other, McMinnville Mayor Royce Davenport, has already given several gallons over the years.
Pelham says he made his first donation because he supports all the Red Cross community programs, and because his fellow county official invited him.
‘I received a wonderful invitation from Mayor Davenport for us to participate jointly,’ Pelham said. ‘I’m very grateful he did so. It’s just another way that we can help, and that’s what it’s all about.’
Davenport says he has always been a strong Red Cross supporter.
‘It’s very important in our community in several different areas,’ Davenport said. ‘Disaster response and fires are a couple of the main ones. When we had the fire downtown a few weeks ago a Red Cross volunteer was there right from the beginning looking for anything they could do to help those who had lost their home. And that happens at every fire that we have in Warren County.
‘And with the blood drives the Red Cross has provided blood for our family and friends in the community and around the country for many, many years.’
The Red Cross holds monthly drives at both the Civic Center and Caney Fork Electric. For more information donors can contact the Red Cross, check the Southern Standard, visit the Red Cross Web site at www.givelife.com, or by dialing 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543).