Callaway Mizzou Alumni claim they "bleed black and gold," but now they are "out for blood" - and for a good cause.
The chapter is encouraging blood donors in Callaway County to give blood during an American Red Cross Mizzou Homecoming satellite drive 1-6 p.m. Friday at Callaway Electric Cooperative, 1313 Cooperative Drive. Whole blood and double, or power red, donation appointments can be made.
An additional opportunity to donate blood will be today from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Callaway County Public Library, 710 Court St.
"We have several important events through the year, and the blood drive is actually one of the larger events we try to have strong hand in," Callaway Mizzou Alumni chapter president Gary Cunningham said.
He said while the group can't officially sponsor the drives this year, due to Mizzou's rules related to the pandemic and gatherings, they'll be "helping out however we can."
MU Homecoming T-shirts will be given to each donor at both blood drives. In addition, all blood donors will receive a $5 Amazon.com gift card code and will be automatically registered to win one of five $1,000 Amazon.com gift cards.
Cunningham said they're hoping for at least 20 participants Oct. 23.
To make an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App or go to redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code CallwayElectric for the Oct. 23 drive, or sponsor code BocoRegionalLibrary for the drive at the public library.
To be eligible to give blood, a donor must wait 56 days between donations. Just one donation may potentially help save three lives. There is no known end date in the fight against coronavirus, and the Red Cross needs the help of blood and platelet donors to meet the needs of patient care. COVID-19 antibody testing will be performed on all donations, and donors who test positive may be contacted about donating "convalescent plasma," a potential treatment for the disease.
According to their website, the Red Cross follows the highest standards of safety and infection control. Donors are currently required to wear a face mask, practice social distancing and undergo a temperature check. As hospitals resume surgical procedures and patient treatments that were temporarily paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, donors are urged to give now to ensure blood products are readily available for patients.
For more information on any of the alumni chapter's activities, contact the chapter president Gary Cunningham at [email protected] or visit the chapter's Facebook page, MizzouAlumniCallaway.