As a major need for blood persists, the American Red Cross has scheduled a series of collection events across Surry County next month which are open to the public, beginning Monday.
“We are continuing to experience an emergency blood shortage,” advised Christopher Newman of the Red Cross office in Winston-Salem, which coordinates drives in Surry and other area counties.
“The blood supply is dropping rapidly, as hospital needs are outpacing the number of donations coming in,” Newman explained.
“We’re working with hospitals around the clock to meet the blood needs of patients — but we can’t do it alone.”
As has been the case in recent months to stimulate donor traffic given the critical need, special rewards await those rolling up their sleeves during September.
Those who give blood from Sept. 1-15 will receive an exclusive Red Cross raglan shirt, while supplies last. Raglan shirts have sleeves that extend all the way to the collar and neckline, rather than ending at the shoulder, with the sleeves generally a different color than the rest of the shirt.
Then from Sept. 16-30, blood donors will receive a $15 e-gift card via rcblood.org/fall
Heat is among the factors that have contributed to the present blood shortage, with officials urging area residents to make appointments to give blood or platelets now.
This can be done using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Local blood drives
A schedule of collection events across Surry County for September includes these days, times and locations:
• A community drive Monday from 12:30 to 5 p.m. in the blood drive room at the Surry American Red Cross building at 844 Westlake Drive in Mount Airy
• Next Friday, Sept. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the conference room of Hugh Chatham Health,180 Parkwood Drive, Elkin
• Next Friday, Sept. 6, 3 to 7 p.m., in the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Airy fellowship hall, 326 S. Main St.
• Sept. 8, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., in the Salem Fork Christian Church fellowship hall, 2490 Zephyr Road, Dobson
• Sept. 15, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Calvary Baptist Church fellowship hall, 314 S. Franklin Road, Mount Airy
• Sept. 15, 12:30 to 5 p.m., Holy Cross Missionary Baptist Church, 344 York Road, Mount Airy, where the American Red Cross bus will be on site
• Sept. 16, noon to 4:30 p.m., a Pilot Mountain community drive at the First Baptist Church of Pilot Mountain fellowship hall, 320 W. Main St.
• Sept. 16, 1:30 to 6 p.m., an Elkin community drive at the Elkin Baptist Church fellowship hall, 110 Gwyn Ave.
• Sept. 18, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the varsity gym of Surry Central High School, 716. S. Main St., Dobson
• Sept. 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Highland Park Baptist Church Family Life Center, 1327 Grove Lane, Mount Airy
• Sept. 25, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the Surry Early College High School gym, 630 S. Main St., Dobson
• Sept. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Surry Communications training room, 819 E. Atkins St., Dobson
• Sept. 30, 2 to 6 p.m., the Elkin Elementary School gym, 135 Old Virginia Road.
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