MCLC will host a Red Cross blood drive on Thursday, March 23, 2023, from 2:00 to 7:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall.

In November 2022, we met the Red Cross goal of 24 units of blood. Our goal this time is at least 26 units.

Reservations are required. You can make a reservation by going to the Red Cross website: redcrossblood.org

(enter zip code 31088 and scroll to Mount Calvary). If you are unable to use the website, please call Bruce

Bauman, 478-922-3286, and he will make the reservation for you.

Good news reminder! 

Many potential donors previously ineligible to donate because of the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

related to mad cow disease are now eligible because of new FDA guidelines! If you have any questions,

you can contact the Red Cross Donor and Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276.

Here is some basic information about blood donations related to COVID vaccines and infections.

1. You may still donate blood, platelets, or plasma after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
2. You may still donate blood, platelets, or plasma after testing positive for COVID if you have recovered and have been symptom-free for at least 14 days prior to the donation.
3. Donating blood with COVID-19 antibodies is not harmful to any patient and can, in fact, be used to treat a COVID-19 patient.
4. A donor’s ability to fight off a future infection will also not be affected.
5. There is no data or evidence that this coronavirus can be transmissible by blood transfusion. There are no reported cases worldwide of transmissions for any respiratory virus including this coronavirus. 
6. Masks are not required. The Red Cross continues to follow a high level of safety and infection control.

Please consider donating again or become a first-time donor. Basic eligibility requirements are age of least 17

years, weight of at least 110 pounds, and general good health. If you have not given blood before, here is how it works: 

1. sign in and read some information, 
2. the Red Cross will check your blood pressure, iron level, pulse, and temperature and ask you some health questions, 
3. the actual donation process takes about 10-20 minutes,
4. juice/snacks are provided. Allow at least an hour.

One hour of someone’s time can help save the lives of up to three people because a single blood donation can be

separated into three components. Red blood cells help accident victims and surgery and anemia patients.

Platelets help the blood clot and are often used for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Plasma is often

used to treat patients suffering from burns, shock, or bleeding disorders.

DO YOU KNOW what a Power Red donation is? Power Red donors give a concentrated dose of red blood cells

during a single donation. The red blood cells are separated from other blood components, and the plasma and

platelets are safely and comfortably returned to the donor. Eligible donors are types O, B negative, and A

negative.

If you can’t donate blood, you can still help. We need 10 volunteers to register blood donors and serve the Red

Cross provided refreshments. If you can help this way, please contact Bruce Bauman.

This will be Bruce Bauman’s last blood drive as MCLC’s blood drive coordinator. If you are interested in

coordinating future Red Cross blood drives at MCLC, please contact Bruce Bauman. Responsibilities of the

coordinator are generally 1) scheduling blood drive dates, 2) publicity, 3) finding volunteers to help with

registration of donors, and 4) finding volunteers to rearrange desks/chairs in the Fellowship Hall.

Please Contact Bruce Bauman at 478-922-3286 if you have any questions.