Upcoming Winters community blood drive scheduled on March 8

By Maria Gillen Special to the Express Vitalant is teaming up with the Lions Club of Winters to host a blood drive at the Winters Community Center, located at 201 Railroad Ave., on March 8 from 1 to 6 p.m. Appointments are encouraged to ensure social-distancing practices. To schedule an appointment contact Vitalant at 877-258-4825 or go to donors.vitalant.org, choose ‘Advanced Search’ and use blood drive code: SMFM164. Walk-ins will be welcomed if space allows. They invite all eligible individuals to join in supporting this vital work. Additionally, Vitalant currently tests successful donations for COVID-19 antibodies to help find donors who could help COVID-19 patients by donating convalescent plasma. Learn more at www.vitalant.org/antibodytest. Donors should bring a photo I.D, eat well and drink plenty of water prior to donating blood. Donors must be 16 years old and there is no upper age limit. Sixteen year olds must bring a signed Vitalant parental consent form found online at vitalant.org. Questions about eligibility requirements can be called in to 877-258-4825. To ensure everyone’s safety in these trying times, Vitalant requires all donors to wear a face covering while in the facility. One-way valve masks are prohibited. Donors must bring their own cloth-based face covering in order to donate blood. Vitalant understand that some individuals may not be able to wear a face covering and ask them to postpone their donation until the safety requirement is no longer required. For more information on blood donation: https://www.vitalant.org/Donate/Donate-Blood-Overview.aspx.