Local volunteers and blood donors needed

for busy disaster season

Monday August 9, 2021— Many weather experts predict a destructive hurricane season this year. The American Red Cross needs volunteers to help on the ground and blood and platelet donors to roll up a sleeve to maintain a stable blood supply in the face of emergencies.

“We’re preparing for another extremely busy disaster season, and it’s critical to have a trained, ready volunteer workforce to make sure we can provide relief at a moment’s notice,” said Stephanie Byrd, Executive Director for the Central & Southern Ohio Region of the American Red Cross.  “This year’s wildfire season is already very active and dangerous because of the severe drought and dry woodlands across the west. And experts are predicting we could see 10 or more hurricanes in the upcoming weeks.”

SHELTER VOLUNTEERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEEDED

The Red Cross needs new volunteers to support disaster shelters. Volunteers will help with reception, registration, food distribution, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks inside disaster shelters. Both entry- and supervisory-level opportunities are available.

The Red Cross also needs volunteers who can work in disaster shelters to address people’s health needs and provide hands-on care in alignment with their professional licensure (registered nurse and licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse). Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available. If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with a current and unencumbered license, this position could be right for you.

After most disasters this year, the Red Cross plans to open group shelters. However, in some communities, hotels may be more appropriate if the risk of COVID-19, including the delta variant, is particularly high. The Red Cross will also continue many of the safety precautions implemented in 2020, including masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures and encouraging social distancing.

DISASTER ACTION TEAM MEMBER

Local Disaster Action Teams provide 24-hour emergency response to local disasters, particularly home fires, ensuring that those affected have access to resources for basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. If you are team-oriented and want to help your neighbor, the DAT responder may be just the thing for you.

Last year, the Central & Southern Ohio Region provided immediate emergency assistance to 2,178 families after 1,398 home fires and other local disasters.  In addition to providing that help here at home, 234 of our local volunteers went on 455 national disaster deployments.

If you want to make a difference and are interested in helping your community should a disaster occur here at home or across the country, please go to www.redcross.org/volunteertoday

BLOOD AND PLATELET DONORS NEEDED

Wildfires, record-breaking heat and a busy hurricane season can also impact the nation’s blood supply. On top of the toll extreme weather events take on the lives of millions, disasters can cause blood drive closures or prevent donors from being able to give safely. Eligible donors can help overcome the critical need for blood and ensure blood is readily available by making an appointment to give by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

As a thank-you, those who come to donate throughout the month of August will get a free 4-month special offer to Apple Music by email (new subscribers only). Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/FeelTheBeat.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Aug. 16-31

Perry

New Lexington

8/20/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 520 1st St.

8/31/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Community Connections Center, 600 Senior Dr.

New Straitsville

8/31/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., New Straitsville United Methodist Church, 101 Clark St.

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Athens

Athens

8/19/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Athens County Chapter House, 100 May Ave.

8/24/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Athens County Chapter House, 100 May Ave.

8/26/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Athens County Chapter House, 100 May Ave.

8/31/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Athens County Chapter House, 100 May Ave.

8/31/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., O'Bleness Hospital, 55 Hospital Drive

Nelsonville

8/17/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Student Center, 3301 Hocking Parkway

8/18/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Nelsonville York High School, 1 Buckeye Dr.

8/25/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Stuart's Opera House - Nelsonville Chamber, 52 Public Square, PO Box 217

The Plains

8/16/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., The Plains United Methodist Church, 3 North Plains Rd

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Coshocton

Walhonding

8/16/2021: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., New Castle Church, 32421 US RT 36

West Lafayette

8/20/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Kirk Street Event Center, 113 S. Kirk Street

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Fairfield

Baltimore

8/17/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., VFW Post 3761, 2155 Reynoldsburg Baltimore Rd.

Lancaster

8/17/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Johns Family Community Blood Drive, 343 E. Walnut St.

8/19/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., St. Mark Church, 324 Gay St.

Pickerington

8/17/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW

8/19/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW

8/21/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Violet Baptist Church, 8345 Blacklick Eastern Road

8/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., OhioHealth Pickerington Medical Campus, 1010 Refugee Road

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Fayette

Jeffersonville

8/29/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Destination Outlets, 8000 Factory Shops Blvd.

Washington Court House

8/17/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Grace United Methodist Church, 301 East Market Place

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Guernsey

Cambridge

8/18/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Guernsey County Crossroads Branch Library, 63500 Byesville Road

8/24/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street

8/24/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street

8/25/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., First Baptist Church, 136 E.8th Street

8/28/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Cambridge Area YMCA Family Center, 1301 Clairmont Ave

Quaker City

8/23/2021: 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Calais Church, 29880 Miltonsburg Calais Road

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Harrison

Cadiz

8/18/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Cadiz Volunteer Fire Department, 254 East Market Street

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Highland

Hillsboro

8/21/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Fall Creek Friends Church, 11345 Karnes Rd

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Hocking

Logan

8/22/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Ebenezer Heritage Center, 7094 Twp Rd. 234

8/24/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 258 E. Hunter St

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Licking

Etna

8/26/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Daybreak Church, 1226 Pike Street

Granville

8/19/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., RevLocal, 4009 Columbus Road

8/25/2021: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., The United Church of Granville, 115 West Broadway

Johnstown

8/16/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Church of the Ascension Worship Center, 555 South Main St

Newark

8/17/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

8/20/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

8/20/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., TrueCore, 215 Deo Drive

8/24/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Faith and Family Center, 45 Granville Street

8/24/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

8/26/2021: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Trek Brewing Company, 1486 Granville Rd

8/27/2021: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

8/27/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., YMCA, 470 West Church Street

8/28/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Elks Lodge, 73 North Third Street

8/31/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Trek Brewing Company, 1486 Granville Rd.

8/31/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Licking Blood Donation Center, 1272 West Main Street, Doctors Park Building 5 - South

Pataskala

8/25/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., West Licking County Family YMCA, 355 West Broad Street

Utica

8/19/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Utica Church of Christ, 115 North Central Avenue

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Morgan

Malta

8/30/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Malta United Methodist Church Youth Building, 115 Fourth Street

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Muskingum

Adamsville

8/17/2021: 2:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., Adamsville Community Center, 8200 Madison Road

Duncan Falls

8/24/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Duncan Falls - Philo Lions Club, Wayne Township Hall, 216 Bridge Street

Roseville

8/27/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., American Legion Post 71, 74 S. Main Street

Zanesville

8/23/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road

8/26/2021: 1 p.m. - 7 p.m., Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 830 Military Road

8/31/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Secrest Auditorium, 334 Shinnick Street

8/31/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., The Community Bank, 113 N. 5th Street

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Noble

Caldwell

8/27/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Community Center, 44187 Fairgrounds Rd

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Perry

New Lexington

8/20/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Senior Citizen Center, 520 1st St.

8/31/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Community Connections Center, 600 Senior Dr.

New Straitsville

8/31/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., New Straitsville United Methodist Church, 101 Clark St.

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Pickaway

Circleville

8/18/2021: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church, 135 East Mound Street

8/19/2021: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Amvets Post 2256-Circleville, 818 Tarlton Road

8/24/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Amvets, 818 Tarlton Road

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Ross

Chillicothe

8/19/2021: 1:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N Bridge St

8/26/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Tabernacle Baptist Church, 221 E. Main St.

8/27/2021: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., South Central Ohio Chapter, 181 N Bridge St

8/30/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Christian Life Tabernacle, 3017 Egypt Pike

About blood donation

To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

Blood drive safety

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

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About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit www.Redcross.org/centralandsouthernoh or follow us on Twitter or Facebook at @ARCcsor