We just received this letter from INOVA Blood Donor Services. Kudos to Rob Martin and everyone who has helped out with the recent successful Herndon Lodge No. 264 Blood Drive!

The brethren hosted the latest Child ID at the YMCA on March 5, 2011 and we had a great turnout.   261 chidren were presented with ID credentials.

THIS TERRIBLE WINTER has created a blood shortage so deep that the American Red Cross has had to issue an emergency nationwide appeal for blood donations. This has  not happened since 2004.

Because of the intense winter storms, more than 14,000 blood and platelet donations have been cancelled in last month. Even though several blood banks operate in our region, and many serve others regions throughout the country, all blood donated, regardless of where it was donated, is sent where the needs are. What is needed right now is a response to this crisis, as the winter continues.

We as Masons can help alleviate this extreme situation, and encourage our families and friends to help too, by signing up and planning to donate in our next Blood Drive, which is scheduled for February 19 from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm.

At present we have many open appointment slots. We really need your help in making this blood drive a success, and to help meet this looming crisis.

Please consider donation on February 19th?

You can make your own appointment by going to: http://www.inova.org/donateblood and using Sponsor Code 7438. You can also call me at 703-655-4655, or email me and I will make the appointment for you.

Remember: only 38% of the population of this country are eligible to donate blood, and of that pool, only 5% actually do. And every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.

It is really up to us. Please sign up and donate on February 19th.

Herndon Lodge 264 and Ashburn Sterling Lodge 288 will be hosting our next blood drive on Saturday, November 13th, starting at 8:00 am to 12:30pm. We would like to invite you to make an appointment and come and donate blood with us on that day.

The blood supply is always very low in our area, and hospitals and blood banks have to turn to volunteers in the community to help meet that need. Blood cannot be manufactured. There is no such thing as artificial blood. Maybe off in the future there might be, but right now the only way to answer the need for blood is if someone is willing to be generous enough to volunteer to give it. I am hoping that it might be YOU.

But more than that, I am asking you to consider making donating blood a regular thing in your life, like getting a dental checkup or getting the car inspected. There is no action more loving and generous in nature, more humble, or more anonymous, than donating blood.

Remember, you can make your own appointment for the next drive by visiting http://www.inova.org/donateblood, click on "Schedule an Appointment" and use sponsor code 7438.
 

This is our last blood drive of the year, and we have had three successful drives. Inova Blood Donor Services is pleased with how well we have done this year, and is very grateful for our support. The blood we donate goes to all the hospitals in the area, not just Inova's. Their blood bank answers the need wherever it exists.

Remember, a single pint of blood that you donate has the potential to save 3 lives. Please volunteer to donate on November 13th.

Here is a flyer with details

Take a look a page 10 of this week’s Herndon Connection. The Lodge is mentioned for last weekend’s Blood Drive and Child ID. A big thank you to everyone that donated. Keep up the great work Bros. Martin and Tagg!