Red Cross to give away grill to lucky blood donor
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on April 13, 2006 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for people who are "in love with the grill next door." The chapter will give away a Vermont Castings grill worth $1,100 to the winning blood donor during its April and May blood drives.
Any donor who gives blood at any of the April or May blood drives will have the opportunity to register for the Giving and Grilling Campaign, said Blood Services Director Samia Garner.
The grill is stainless steel cast iron with a 450-square inch, 50,000 BTU cooking area. It was donated by an anonymous Red Cross supporter
"We've got the summer months coming up and that's one of the most difficult times for blood collections," Mrs. Garner said. "Schools are out and people are traveling. And when people are traveling, there are more accidents. There are also more elective surgeries.
"So if we begin now to make sure we've got people lined up giving blood then hopefully when we hit that June, July and August period, we'll go into it a little bit better off."
Mrs. Garner noted that O negative blood has been in emergency status for the past several weeks. surgeries have to be canceled."
Donors must be at least 17, weigh 110 pounds and be in good general health. A donor can give blood every 56 days. A double red cell donor can give every 112 days.
The grill is at the chapter house and may be seen Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.