Nevada Elks Lodge blood drive to benefit local patients

Last year, 28,000 people in the area needed a blood transfusion. This year, the local needs for blood are expected to rise. Community Blood Center, the provider of blood services to local hospitals, will be conducting a blood drive on Friday, July 24 at Nevada Elks Lodge in the The Meeting Room to help the local hospital patients in our area that depend on life saving blood donations.

"When individuals normally think of essential community services, they think about the fire and police departments," said Dr. Jay Menitove, executive director and medical director with Community Blood Center. "However, because Community Blood Center is here to meet the needs of local patients, we would hope that individuals in our community would consider us to be just as essential."

Individuals in Nevada can help meet the local needs by donating blood at the Community Blood Center blood drive on Friday, July 24 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Nevada Elks Lodge in the The Meeting Room, 510 N. Cenntennial Blvd.

To make an appointment online, go to www.esavealifenow.org and use Sponsor Code nevadaelkslodge.

Prospective donors also may contact Jason Meisenheimer at (417) 667-7571. Just one donation can help as many as two local hospital patients.

Community Blood Center must collect at least 580 pints of blood every day to meet the needs.