United Way Of Lamar County Holds “By Appointment Only” Blood Drive

The United Way of Lamar County (UWLC) has partnered with the American Red Cross and the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce to hold a by-appointment-only blood drive on Wednesday, April 22nd at the Love Civic Center.

Jenny Wilson, Executive Director of the UWLC, stated, “Although the coronavirus is dominating our lives right now, the need for blood continues. Accidents, emergency surgeries, childbirth are all still happening; however, the number of blood drives, and the supply of blood has decreased dramatically over the past month due to COVID-19.”

Every precaution to keep donors safe includes social distancing standards and hand sanitizers, and only donors will be allowed in the civic center at eight at a time. We screen each donor in a separate area before donating. The screening will include a temperature check, and anyone with a temperature of 99.5 or higher will not be allowed to give.

Wilson adds, “By having the blood drive by appointment only, we will be able to control the flow of people in the civic center, which already is a huge, open space. Right now, we only have five people who have signed up for an appointment, and we need at least 30 for the blood drive to happen. So I encourage everyone healthy and able to donate, to please do so!”

To make an appointment, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter zip code 75460 or go directly to https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=75460 Or to schedule an appointment by phone, you can call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

For Lamar County residents who are not able to donate blood but would like to help during this time, you can donate to the United Way of Lamar County COVID-19 Crisis Fund, which is up to help those who have been financially impacted by the virus. Donations may be made by mail to PO Box 1, Paris, TX 75461 or online at www.lamarcountyuw.org or through the GoFundMe account which can be found on the United Way of Lamar County Facebook page.

For more information on the Blood Drive or the Crisis Fund, call 903-784-6642.