Blood drive set at Fulton State Hospital

Free Cardinals T-shirts to donors

As an incentive to donate blood, free St. Louis Cardinals T-shirts will be given away during a Red Cross blood drive Tuesday at Fulton State Hospital.

The American Red Cross is conducting the Cardinals Blood Drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Fulton State Hospital Administration Canteen, 600 East Fifth St. in Fulton.

The collection point is in Fulton State Hospital's main administration building located at the end of East Fifth Street around the big circular drive.

"We set a goal of collecting 75 pints of blood and we already have 80 signed up to donate on Tuesday," said Amanda Schlottach, Red Cross blood donor representative.

"But we are now under a nationwide blood appeal for all blood types. We still need as many donors as we can get," Schlottach said.

Anyone who attempts to donate blood on Tuesday at the blood drive in Fulton will receive a specially-designed St. Louis Cardinals-Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.

Jason Motte, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals who is sidelined this year after arm surgery, said it is important to perform on the field. "But we need," Motte said, "to perform in our community as well. You can give a patient in need a fighting chance by stepping up to the plate and giving blood."

Schlottach said the St. Louis Cardinals sponsors some Red Cross blood drives each year. The blood drive in Fulton is one of the drives the Cardinals are supporting this year by offering the T-shirts as an incentive to donate.

Schlottach said anyone in good health over age 16 can donate blood. Those age 16 will need a parental consent form signed, which will be available at the donation site on Tuesday.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 1-800-733-2767 or go to redcrossblood.org.