Lions Club encourages donors at April 7 blood drive

To the Monticello Community,

     The Monticello Lions Club will be sponsoring the Red Cross blood drive on Tuesday, April 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Monticello Berndes Center located at the Jones County Fairgrounds.

     Blood drives are not considered “mass social gatherings,” as they are considered a necessary need to community health. They don’t involve assemblies of large numbers of people, as generally they are spread out over five or six hours. Blood drives are controlled events with trained staff and appropriate safety measures to protect donors and recipients. It’s important to note that at each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees follow thorough safety protocols to help prevent the spread of any type of infection.

     We definitely understand why people may be hesitant to come out and donate, but the Red Cross has implemented additional precautions to ensure the safety of donors and staff, as well as the blood supply, including:

     • Checking the temperature of staff and donors before entering a blood drive to make sure they are healthy

     • Providing hand sanitizer for use before the drive, as well as throughout the donation process

     • Spacing beds, where possible, to follow social distancing practices between blood donors

     • Increasing enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment.

     Individuals who are at least 17 years of age (16 years with written parental permission), weigh at least 100 pounds, and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

     To make an appointment, please call 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org. Walk-in donors are always welcome.

     The need is constant and the gratification is instant. Thank you for helping to make the Monticello Lions Club blood drive on April 7 a success.

Lion John Lacock and

the Lions blood drive committee