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St. Mary Basilica is hosting a blood drive Tuesday, Feb. 18, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the O’Connor Family Life Center, 613 Main St.

Over the years, we’ve had many faithful blood donors, but we desperately need additional donors to volunteer now. If you’ve never considered donating, now’s the time. There is a severe blood shortage, and the Miss-Lou people are known to step up to help when there is a need in our community.

We never know when someone close to us will need a blood transfusion. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. will require blood. It could be a newborn in the ICU. It could be a mother with leukemia who needs blood regularly, or it could be a teenager who was in a car accident. Because of blood donors, life for those people won’t end. One donation can save up to three lives!

The word hero applies to many people under various circumstances. It’s often our First Responders who we count on every day to be there when we need them. It can also be a child who calls 911 and ultimately saves a life. It can be a coworker who does the Heimlich maneuver and saves a choking colleague.

It can also be you. Your donation literally saves lives. Blood cannot be manufactured and yours regenerates after a donation! Donating blood is very safe and is very easy to give.

Sr. Mary Basilica has teamed up again with Vitalant, a nationwide blood services company. They provide blood to about 900 hospitals across the U.S., in our community and beyond.

If you are a first time donor, Vitalant is offering an initial screening. They will test and type your blood. Preliminary results are available in just minutes. If you don’t already know your blood type, they can tell you what it is.

You can download Vitalant’s app to keep your health history including your blood type, make and manage appointments, and always have access to your Blood Donor ID card.

During this blood drive, Vitalant is offering a $10 gift card to each donor with a Donor Rewards Program opt-in. As always, snacks are also available.

We know your time is valuable, so making an appointment helps us to stay on schedule, but walk-ins are absolutely welcome. There is a same-day questionnaire online that can be completed ahead of time that will also speed things up, but the questionnaire can be completed in person as well. ID is required.

To schedule an appointment, please call the church office (601) 445-5616, call Vitalant directly (877) 258-4825 or visit donors.vitalant.org.

Charlene Rushing works with St. Mary Basilica Community Services.