American Red Cross holds blood drive at FCMC

The American Red Cross is in an urgent need for blood donations according to ARC Account Representative for North East Arkansas Mitch Davis.

According to Davis, the Forrest City Medical Center will be partnering with the American Red Cross on Thursday for a blood drive in the hospital's inservice classroom.

"We are in an urgent need for blood," said Davis. "In June, we collected 12 percent less blood than that of the previous June and that underscores how we have a decline in donations coming in at this time. Obviously, with it being the summer, people are on vacations and you usually do see a decline during this period but not this significant of a decline."

The drive will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Thursday, July 28. Donors should use the donor app and enter Forrest City Medical Center in the search field to find the drive.

"Donors will be able to enter through the main doors of the facility and masks must be worn," said Caitlyn Sweet, FCMC Marketing Director. "We really encourage people to sign up."

Sweet said currently, there are 15 time slots from which donors may choose.

"But, those are filling up quickly," cautioned Sweet. "Our numbers in this area have always been strong and we hope to keep things that way."

According to Sweet, donors were always in demand due to the short shelf life of blood.

"Just because you donated in the past few months doesn't mean it isn't still needed," said Sweet. "If you happen to miss it with us, however, the First United Methodist Church will also be holding a blood drive."

Davis said that it is vital that enough blood is collected during these drives to help get out of the urgent level that hospitals across the nation are facing.

"Another thing that we have to remember, is that just in January of this year, we were in the worst position that we have

Brodie Johnson • Times-Herald Today’s edition of the Times-Herald features the annual St. Francis County Farm Family special section. This year’s special section salutes Lindsey Brothers Farms, which is the 2022 St. Francis County Farm Family of the Year. In addition, the family has been named the East Central District Farm Family of the Year – one of eight families statewide to win the district honor. The district award qualifies the Lindseys for the state Farm Family of the Year Award, which will be announced in December. Members of the Lindsey family, from left, are: Baxter Flowers, Cody Flowers, Sarah Flowers, Drew Flowers, Kenlee Flowers, Susan Lindsey, Bubba Lindsey, Neal Flowers, Lisa Morris, Emersyn Morris, Kacie Morris, Jay Lindsey, Kasie Lindsey, David Morris, Cody Morris and Jenny Lindsey.