Marsh plans area blood drives amid ‘critical need’

Murry Lee
·1 min read

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) – Marsh Regional Blood Center has planned six blood drives in February in response to a critical need for donations in the region.

The blood center stated in a news release Wednesday that winter months cause a downturn in donations, but the need for donors does not diminish.

“Blood supplies have decreased not just in this region, but nationwide, since the winter months,” Steffanie Sukel, director of Marsh, said in the release. “Throughout the rest of the winter months, it will be especially crucial for people to give blood to keep up with demand and meet the needs of our region.”

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Marsh has planned the following community blood drives for February, which are open to the public:

  • Thursday, Feb. 1, 10:30 a.m. -5 p.m., J.I Burton High School, Norton, Virginia

  • Thursday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, Virginia

  • Thursday, Feb. 1, noon – 6 p.m., Food City in Wise, Virginia

  • Thursday, Feb. 1, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Blackthorn Club at The Ridges, Jonesborough, Tennessee

  • Friday, Feb. 2, 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., West Ridge High School, Blountville, Tennessee

  • Saturday, Feb. 3, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Black Wolf Harley Davidson, Bristol, Virginia

Marsh will also give a $10 Food City card to every donor at its donation centers through Feb. 2. Marsh operates collection centers in Kingsport, Johnson City and Bristol, Tennessee.

The blood center stressed Wednesday that all donations stay in the Tri-Cities region.

Anyone wishing to donate blood must be at least 17 years old, weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health.

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