Cancelled blood drives and
donation appointments due to
the recent winter weather has
caused a systemwide blood
shortage.
Forrest City First United
Methodist Church blood drive
organizer Corrine Eldridge said,
“We have had a blood shortage
for several years now, really, and
with the winter weather they’ve
had to cancel so many drives
that they are definitely short on
donations.”
The Red Cross contacted
FUMC to see if they would
extend their hours on an
upcoming blood drive to
accommodate more
appointments because the need
is so great.
“When you have a shortage to
start with and then you lose
blood drives, the shortage is
even more severe,” said Eldridge.
According to a press release
from Our Blood Institute, the
prolonged shortage has the
potential to have an impact on
hospitals and patients in need.
Dr. John Armitage, president
and CEO of Our Blood Institute, said in the press release that
patients are counting on donors.
“Our donors are true
champions, but this winter
weather has hit us with a painful
one-two punch.” said Armitage.
“We’re asking everyone who can
safely travel to step into the ring
and help us fight this shortage.”
To help with the shortage, the
Forrest City First United
Methodist Church is hosting a
blood drive on Tuesday, Feb. 25,
at the United Methodist Activity
Center located at 101 South Izard
Street in Forrest City.
“You never know when a
family member needs to go to the
hospital and needs blood and
how frightening it would be to go
to the hospital and not get the
blood you need,” said Eldridge.
“That to me is all the reason in the
world to give blood.”
Appointments to donate in
the upcoming drive are available
from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Walk-ins
are welcome.
To make a donation
appointment, visit
redcrossblood.org and enter
ForrestCityFirstUnitedMethodist
or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Blood drive set in FC next week to help shortage
