Published: July 19, 2008 02:06 am            

COMMUNITIES: Red Cross plans drive, awards scholarships

Two students at Niagara County high schools received scholarships from the American Red Cross Blood Services this year.

Karen Dodge of Royalton-Hartland High School received a $1,400 scholarship. Dodge was chosen at random among students at her school based on its frequency of donation and participation rate. Dodge will attend Northwood University in Michigan in the fall, majoring in entertainment and sports management.

Brittany Casino of Wilson High School received a $300 scholarship. Casino has enrolled in the state University at Buffalo’s school of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

The scholarship program was created by the Red Cross to encourage donations from high school students.

Blood drives at high schools and colleges contribute significant donations to the organization, and school vacation is part of the reason donations during summer months can drop from 10 percent to 15 percent.

This region has a three-day supply of all blood types on its shelves, but crucial blood types such as O-Negative, A-Negative and B-Negative are at supply levels of less than a day.

The desired supply level is five to seven days, according to a news release.

The Red Cross will be holding a special blood drive from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at its “Community that Cares” blood drive at the Dale Association, 33 Ontario St.

All donors will receive a T-shirt, a hot dog, a coupon for Dunkin’ Donuts and the opportunity to win tickets to the sold-out home opener for the Buffalo Bills.

To make an appointment, call 1 (800) GIVE LIFE or visit www.donatebloodnow.org.

        

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