Williamson County Chamber: Local Volunteers And Blood Donors Needed For Busy Disaster Season

Press release from Williamson County Chamber:

August 17, 2021

American Red Cross

Tennessee Region

RedCross.org/Tennessee

RedCrossBlood.org

Media Contact: Sherri McKinney

Telephone: 615-425-6679

Sherri.McKinney@redcross.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local Volunteers and Blood Donors Needed

For Busy Disaster Season

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Monday, Aug. 9, 2021 — Many weather experts predict a destructive wildfire and hurricane season this year. The American Red Cross needs volunteers to help on the ground and blood and platelet donors to roll up a sleeve to maintain a stable blood supply in the face of emergencies.

“We’re preparing for another extremely busy disaster season, and it’s critical to have a trained, ready volunteer workforce to make sure we can provide relief at a moment’s notice,” said Sherri McKinney, regional director of communications for the American Red Cross, Tennessee Region. “This year’s wildfire season is already very active and dangerous because of the severe drought and dry woodlands across the west. And experts are predicting we could see 10 or more hurricanes in the upcoming weeks.”

SHELTER VOLUNTEERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEEDED

The Red Cross needs new volunteers to support disaster shelters. Volunteers will help with reception, registration, food distribution, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks inside disaster shelters.

The Red Cross also needs volunteers who can work in disaster shelters to address people’s health needs and provide hands-on care in alignment with their professional licensure (registered nurse and licensed practical nurse/licensed vocational nurse). Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available. If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with a current and unencumbered license, this position could be right for you.

After most disasters this year, the Red Cross plans to open group shelters. However, in some communities, hotels may be more appropriate if the risk of COVID-19, including the delta variant, is particularly high. The Red Cross will also continue many of the safety precautions implemented in 2020, including masks, health screenings, enhanced cleaning procedures and encouraging social distancing.

DISASTER ACTION TEAM MEMBER

Local Disaster Action Teams provide 24-hour emergency response to local disasters, particularly home fires, ensuring that those affected have access to resources for basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. If you are team-oriented and want to help your neighbor, the DAT responder may be just the thing for you.

Last fiscal year, July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, the Tennessee Region provided immediate emergency assistance to 2,781 families after 2,019 home fires and other disasters.

If you want to make a difference and are interested in helping your community should a disaster occur here at home or across the country, please apply online at redcross.org/volunteer.

BLOOD AND PLATELET DONORS NEEDED

Wildfires, record-breaking heat and a busy hurricane season can also impact the nation’s blood supply. On top of the toll extreme weather events take on the lives of millions, disasters can cause blood drive closures or prevent donors from being able to give safely. Eligible donors can help overcome the critical need for blood and ensure blood is readily available by making an appointment to give by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

As a thank-you, those who come to donate throughout the month of August will get a free 4-month special offer to Apple Music by email (new subscribers only). Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/FeelTheBeat.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Aug. 16-31

Christian County, Kentucky

Fort Campbell:
8/20/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Byrd Health Clinic, 7973 Strike Blvd.

Simpson County, Kentucky

Franklin:
8/25/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., The Lighthouse of Truth, 607 Orange St.

Warren County, Kentucky

Bowling Green:
8/18/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

8/20/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

8/24/2021: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Grace Community Church of Bowling Green, 5908 Scottsville Road

8/25/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

8/26/2021: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., WKU Health Services Complex, 700 1st Ave.

8/27/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn University Plaza & Sloan Convention Center, 1021 Wilkinson Trace

8/30/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Masonic Lodge, 1601 Westen St.

8/31/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Living Hope Baptist, 1805 Westen Ave.

Cheatham County, Tennessee

Chapmansboro:
8/31/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Cheap Hill Church of Christ, 2834 Highway 12 N.

Kingston Springs:
8/17/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Harpeth High School, 170 E. Kingston Springs Road

8/24/2021: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., South Cheatham Public Library, 358 N. Main St.

Coffee County, Tennessee

Manchester:

8/19/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1006 Hillsboro Road

Davidson County, Tennessee

Antioch:
8/26/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Rural Hill Church of Christ, 564 Bell Road

Joelton:
8/22/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 7140 Whites Creek Pike

Nashville:
8/16/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/17/2021: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Light Hall, 2215 Garland Ave.

8/17/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/18/2021: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/19/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/20/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/21/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/22/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/23/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/24/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/25/2021: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Light Hall 2215 Garland Ave.

8/25/2021: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/26/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/26/2021: 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Crievewood Baptist Church, 480 Hogan Road

8/27/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/28/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/29/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

8/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., The Donelson Fellowship, 3210 McGavock Pike

8/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saint Thomas West Hospital, 4220 Harding Road

8/30/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., PARKS, 4025 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 601

8/30/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.
8/31/2021: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Light Hall, 2215 Garland Ave.

8/31/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave.

Dickson County, Tennessee
Dickson:
8/16/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Tennsco Community Center, 115 Tennsco Drive

Franklin County, Tennessee

Winchester:
8/27/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Winchester Church of Christ, 1230 S. College St.

Giles County, Tennessee

Pulaski:
8/23/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., The Rec Center, 333 E. College St.

Lawrence County, Tennessee

Lawrenceburg:
8/23/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lawrenceburg Law Enforcement Appreciation, 212 Waterloo St.

Lewis County, Tennessee

Hohenwald:
8/24/2021: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Walmart, 612 E. Main St.

Lincoln County, Tennessee
Fayetteville:
8/17/2021: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., City of Fayetteville Parks & Recreation, 1203 Winchester Highway

Macon County, Tennessee
Red Boiling Springs:
8/31/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Hermitage Springs School, 17580 Clay County Highway

Marshall County, Tennessee
Chapel Hill:
8/18/2021: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m., Chapel Hill UMC, 316 N. Horton Parkway

Lewisburg:
8/30/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Marshall County Rec Center, 1551 Mooresville Highway

Maury County, Tennessee
Columbia:
8/26/2021: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., American Legion Post 19, 812 Nashville Highway

Spring Hill:

8/19/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., UAW- Local 1853, 125 Stephen P Yokich Pkwy

Montgomery County, Tennessee
Clarksville:
8/16/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tennessee River Red Cross, 1760 Madison St.

8/17/2021: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Veteran’s Plaza – William O. Beach Civic Hall, 350 Pageant Lane

8/21/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Tennessee River Red Cross, 1760 Madison St.

8/23/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tennessee River Red Cross, 1760 Madison St.

8/25/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tennessee River Red Cross, 1760 Madison St.

8/30/2021: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Tennessee River Red Cross, 1760 Madison St.

Overton County, Tennessee
Livingston:
8/16/2021: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Tennessee College of Applied Technology, 740 HighTech Drive

Perry County, Tennessee
Lobelville:
8/27/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Cane Creek Market, 1798 Hwy 438 E.

Putnam County, Tennessee
Cookeville:
8/25/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Putnam County Library, 50 E. Broad St.

Rutherford County, Tennessee
Murfreesboro:

8/16/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/17/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/19/2021: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/20/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/21/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/22/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/23/2021: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Alvin C. York Medical Center, 3400 Lebanon Road

8/23/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Alvin C. York Medical Center, 3400 Lebanon Road

8/23/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/24/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/26/2021: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/27/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/28/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/29/2021: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/30/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

8/31/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd.

Smyrna:

8/20/2021: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Tennessee Army National Guard, Building 250, 8th Ave. S.

8/25/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Living Faith Ministries, 208 Jefferson Pike

Sumner County, Tennessee
Hendersonville:
8/26/2021: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., One Stop Realty, 131 Indian Lake Road, Suite 101

8/30/2021: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Trinity Baptist Church, 840 Forest Retreat Road

Portland:
8/18/2021: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Portland Church of Christ, 200 N. Russell St.

Trousdale County, Tennessee
Hartsville:

8/25/2021: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Hartsville Community Center, 303 Main St.

Warren County, Tennessee

McMinnville:
8/31/2021: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Caney Fork Electric, 920 Smithville Highway

Wayne County, Tennessee

Collinwood:
8/23/2021: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Collinwood High School, 401 Trojan Blvd.

Williamson County, Tennessee

Brentwood:

8/17/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/18/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/19/2021: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Quorum Health, 1573 Mallory Lane

8/19/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/23/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/24/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/25/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/26/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/27/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/29/2021: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Congregation Micah, 2001 Old Hickory Blvd.

8/30/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/31/2021: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Church of the Good Shepherd, 1420 Wilson Pike

8/31/2021: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., UnitedHealthcare, 10 Cadillac Drive, Suite 155

8/31/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., The John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road

8/31/2021: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Best Buy, 1600 Galleria Blvd.

Franklin:

8/19/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross, 129 West Fowlkes St., Suite 100

8/19/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., D4C Dental Brands, 1550 W. McEwen Dr., Suite 200

8/19/2021: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Westhaven Community, 401 Cheltenham Ave.

8/20/2021: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Vanderbilt Medical Group, 2105 Edward Curd Lane

8/22/2021: 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 508 Franklin Road

8/24/2021: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Christ Community Church, 1215 Hillsboro Road

8/25/2021: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., St. Philip Catholic Church, 113 2nd Ave.

8/25/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Lowe’s Home Improvement, 3060 Mallory Lane

8/25/2021: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Franklin Christian Church, 4040 Murfreesboro Road

8/26/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., American Red Cross, 129 West Fowlkes St., Suite 100

Wilson County, Tennessee

Lebanon:
8/16/2021: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Faith Lutheran Church, 1655 Main St.

8/30/2021: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., East/West Building, 945 E Baddour Parkway

Mount Juliet:

8/30/2021: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Celebration Lutheran Church, 3425 N. Mount Juliet Road

About blood donation

To donate blood, individuals need to bring a blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification that are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), 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 must meet certain height and weight requirements.

Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a RapidPass®. With RapidPass®, donors complete the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation, from a mobile device or computer. To complete a RapidPass®, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

In most cases, those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. However, knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine they received is important in determining donation eligibility.

Blood drive safety

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on Twitter at @RedCross.

This press release was produced by Williamson County Chamber. The views expressed here are the author’s own.