2 Red Cross blood drives slated for area

6/20/2011

Owens Community College is to be host for an American Red Cross blood drive Wednesday on campus, and the Red Cross itself is to hold its annual Interfaith Blood Drive next weekend at a West Toledo church.

The Owens blood drive is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in rooms 125-128 of the Audio-Visual Classroom Center. The Red Cross's Western Lake Erie Blood Services Region event is to be at Grace Lutheran Church, 4441 Monroe St., Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Because blood donations decrease during the summer, blood drives now provide essential supply during the Independence Day holiday, said Bonnie Meridieth, the Red Cross regional director of donor recruitment.

Anyone who attends the Interfaith drive can enter to win a NASCAR ticket package to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"The Interfaith committee has been bringing people of all faiths and beliefs together to help save lives for the past 24 years to help break down the walls of prejudice and bias for any and all people," said Dorothy Friedrich, Interfaith Blood Drive chairman.

The Interfaith committee includes representatives of different religious denominations throughout the Toledo area. A celebration of life service is to be held at the Hindu temple, 4336 King Rd., at 7 p.m. Sunday to celebrate the blood drive's conclusion.

Appointment can be scheduled at redcrossblood.org or 1-800-RED CROSS. Donors must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds, and have photo identification. Walk-in donations also are welcome.