Blood Drive Monday: Organizers Hoping To Make Up For

Holiday Slowdown, Snow Delays

Newtown Lions Club has once again teamed up with the American Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive at Newtown Congregational Church this month. The club has helped present the early January blood drive for a few years, and is hoping — as are American Red Cross staff members — that the weather will cooperate next week.

The blood drive is scheduled for Monday, January 10, from 8:30 am until 6:30 pm. Appointments are available by calling 800-448-3543, but walk-in visitors will also be welcomed.

A dedicated blood drive that had been scheduled for late last month was stymied by the first snow storm of the 2010-11 season. Organized to take place at Congregation Adath Israel on December 26 in honor of Mark Rebb, the drive was conducted during the second half of that two-day storm. Just eight people made it to the synagogue that day.

“We understand, between the holidays and especially the snow last week, why people couldn’t get out to that blood drive,” Lynne Phillips, account manager, biomedical services for the American Red Cross in Norwalk, said this week. “We are hoping that next week’s blood drive will be much more successful.”

The Red Cross Blood Services Division requires donors be at least age 18, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. Visit www. GiveLife.org for additional information.

Newtown Congregational Church is at 14 West Street. The blood drive will be in NCC’s Great Room.

An elevator is available for those who need it if entering the building from its lower rear parking lot, while those who use the upper rear parking lot (from the second entrance past the fork at Castle Hill Road) will be able to get into the Great Room without having to use stairs or the elevator.

The building is fully handicapped accessible.

In addition to feeling good about doing something that will help others, donors have an extra incentive to give blood this month: January is also Dunkin’ Donuts month.

Each presenting donor will be given a coupon for a pound of coffee redeemable at Dunkin’ Donuts.

For additional information on the day of the blood drive, call the NCC office at 203-426-9024.