FUMC partnering with Red Cross for Tuesday blood drive

The First United Methodist Church is gearing up for another blood drive as they work to help with the national shortage of blood through a partnership with the American Red Cross.

The blood drive, taking place on Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the FUMC Activity Center, has six more appointment slots available and is accepting walk-in donations.

According to Corinne

Eldridge, blood drive coordinator for the FUMC, the church signed up to host as many blood drives as they can this year to help combat the shortage.

"There have been several, terrible shortages," said Eldridge. "People don't seem to realize how bad these shortages have been. As people can only donate blood every 56 days, we can only hold a blood drive every 56 days. When we agreed to do blood drives, we agreed to doing one every 56 days. Since there is a blood shortage, we don't want to cut any out. We want people to give as often as they can. We are booked for the maximum number of drives that we can get. We do that because we know there is such a shortage."

Eldridge said that by allowing walk-ins during this blood drive, the group hopes to see a larger turnout.

"We were given 46 appointment slots and we have 40 filled," said Eldridge. "Usually,