NEWS RELEASE

June 14, 2007

On Thursday, June 21st, the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), Anna Maria’s, Whole Foods Market-Chapel Hill and the American Red Cross will sponsor a Blood Drive in the OWASA Administration Building at 400 Jones Ferry Road, Carrboro. The drive will begin at 11:00 am and will last until 3:30 pm in the OWASA Community Room.

“We are proud to have been a co-sponsor and host for blood drives since June, 1982,” said Ms. Stephanie Glasgow, OWASA’s Safety and Training Administrator and blood drive coordinator.

“The drives at OWASA have been successful because of the many people in our community who have shown their caring for others by giving blood. We sincerely thank them, Anna Maria’s, our co-sponsor for more than 10 years; and Whole Foods Market-Chapel Hill, which became a co-sponsor in 2006,” she said.

Since 1982, OWASA has co-sponsored more than 75 drives with donations totaling nearly 4,000 units of blood to benefit almost 12,000 people.

However, current blood supplies are low and donations are crucial for helping people undergoing surgery, people who are injured and suffer blood loss, etc. Jeff Davis, Donor Recruitment Representative with the American Red Cross, said “Blood types O-, O+ and A- are currently at critically low levels. Although about 60% of Americans are eligible to give blood, only 5% regularly donate. This situation worsens dramatically during summer months when many regular donors, such as high school students, college students and business professionals, take vacations.  Since our only source of blood is volunteer donors, the gap between donations and hospital demand grows at an alarming rate from May to September.  The result is a serious and very real blood shortage.”

Anna Maria’s, Whole Foods Market-Chapel Hill and OWASA will provide food for the blood drive.

In addition, blood donors in June will be eligible to participate in a drawing for a $750 gas card. (Please see the flyer below.)

Blood donors are encouraged to contact Ms. Glasgow in advance at 537-4223 or send an e-mail to sglasgow@owasa.org to make an appointment. Appointments are very helpful to the Red Cross staff in planning for staffing needs at the blood drive.

For more information:

American Red Cross

Jeff Davis, Senior Donor Recruitment Representative for Carolinas Region Blood Services        
telephone: 800-290-6168, ext. 380;   e-mail:  davisje@usa.redcross.org

OWASA

Stephanie Glasgow, Safety and Training Administrator/Blood Drive Coordinator
telephone: 537-4223; e-mail: sglasgow@owasa.org