4th Annual Blood Drive Coming Soon!!

BLOOD DRIVE

We are ready to schedule appointments for our 4th Annual Blood Drive in honor of Colby. The drive will be on Saturday, February 11 from 9-2 at Hendersonville Church of Christ (same place as the previous years). Time slots are again open in 15 minute intervals.

If you would like to sign up to donate, please send me an email to jbbhitchcock@gmail.com, and I will take care of everything. In your email, please include your name, contact number or email address, and a time range that will work for you. I will enter it into the Red Cross schedule and then send you a confirmation email with your appointment time. Please just let me know by email or in the comment section if you have any questions. Jason and I have set a goal of 75 donors, so please spread the word and help us fill up these time slots!!

One change this year is that the Red Cross has set aside time slots specifically for automated red cell collection (2RBC). Read below for a description from the Red Cross of this process...

Unlike a traditional whole blood donation, Automated Red Cell Collection (2RBC) allows the donor to give two units of red blood cells, instead of just one. The process separates your blood into its components while it is being drawn. Because only red blood cells are being collected, there will enough for two red cell transfusions. The remaining components are returned to the donor. The procedure takes just 20 minutes longer than a whole blood donation. 2RBCs can only be donated every four months. 2RBC donors must be certain height and weight requirements, as well as other donor criteria:
Males: Must weigh at least 130 lbs. and be 5'1" or taller . Females: Must weigh at least 150 lbs. and be 5'5" or taller.

Jason did the 2RBC donation last year and had no problems. Please just remember that it will take a little longer than the traditional whole blood donation. We would love to schedule as many of these as possible, considering they are able to get two units of red blood cells instead of one from each donor.

BAKE SALE

We will be doing a bake sale again this year and donating all proceeds to the CHD Research efforts at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in honor of Colby. If you are interested in providing baked goods for the sale, please send me an email to jbbhitchcock@gmail.com. Just let me know what you would like to make (or purchase from a store) for the sale...cookies, brownies, muffins, candies, breads, cakes, cupcakes, trail mixes, etc.

If you would like to make a direct donation to the CHD Research efforts at Vanderbilt in honor of Colby, we would greatly appreciate it!! Checks should be made out to "Monroe Carrell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt." On the memo line, please write "CHD Research." You can mail those to me at home or bring them by the church on February 11th.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are needed and greatly appreciated!!!!! If you would like to help, please send me an email to jbbhitchcock@gmail.com with the times you are available. Thank you all so much!!