Dear Editor,

The annual New Glarus Good Friday Red Cross Blood Drive is coming up on March 25th. The annual drive will be held at the New Glarus Bible Church, located at 207 6th Street, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and is sponsored, staffed, and coordinated by Shepherd of the Hills Church and its Stewardship & Shepherding Committee.

Our community has always had a large turnout and we hope to continue to support the American Red Cross with a great response again this year. Many people want to give back to the community, but may not have a lot of time to volunteer. The American Red Cross reminds eligible individuals that in only about one hour, volunteer blood donors can help save lives and feel instant gratification. Blood is a perishable product that can only come from generous volunteers. By donating blood, individuals can make a difference in the lives of patients in their community, state, and throughout the nation. Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit http://www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. You can save up to 15 minutes when you donate blood by using RapidPass! Visit http://www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass for more information.

As an added service, the New Glarus Lions Club will have stations set up to provide a free Adult Vision Screening at the church. The screeners are from the New Glarus and Mount Horeb Lions Clubs, and Prevent Blindness Wisconsin trains and oversees the screening program (http://www.preventblindness.org/wi). This program is a screening, not a diagnosis, to test adults over 40 years old who may be symptomatic for eye diseases, and will then refer those who may be suspect to an eye care professional. There is a registration, risk assessment, visual acuity tests, visual field tests, and an exit review. Younger adults may be screened if they feel they are at risk or have family history of eye disease.

Thanks in advance for your continued support!

Steve Johnson, Volunteer Coordinator