Dear Editor,

Please help us to thank the great people who came to the Red Cross blood drive in Monticello on Friday, the 22nd of February. We were very fortunate to have good weather, after a winter of extreme cold and loads of snow. Some blood drives in the area had to be canceled but we were lucky to have a nice day.

Fifty kind souls registered to donate blood and just over 50 units were collected. The drive was very successful and we easily surpassed our goal of 37 units. There was a balanced mix of people with appointments and walk-ins, and the day progressed very smoothly. We did not have the student numbers that we have had at previous drives, but there were several people who came from Monroe and Albany and other surrounding communities where blood drives had been canceled. Thanks to the wonderful communication of the local papers and radio and the dedication of donors, it was a successful day!

Our canteen was well-stocked with food, as always. Everyone enjoyed the sausage and candies donated by Colony Brands, cheese donated by Silver Lewis and J&C Cheese Store, and delicious home-baked cookies from the congregation at Washington Reformation Church. The Monticello Lions donated beverages and crackers and also helped with setting up and packing up the beds and Red Cross supplies. A special thank you goes to Margie Walls for supplying pizza for the Red Cross staff and our volunteers. The Culver’s “Pint for a Pint” coupons were a hit, as always. Thank you to all of these wonderful businesses and clubs for helping to make the drive a roaring success!

Last, but not least, thank you to members of the Monticello National Honor Society and to Rosemary Avery and Lucille Elmer for always being willing to help with the blood drives in Monticello. It is a pleasure to work with all of these people.

A special note to blood donors: Thank you for your dedication to this cause. Your donations help to improve the lives of so many people that you will never meet and who will never get to thank you. But what you do really, really matters and we all appreciate you and your gift.

Best Regards to All from the Monticello Red Cross Blood Drive Committee