Blood donors can help obtain school grants

A blood drive in LaCrosse Friday could award the local school a $2,000 grant if 36 donors participate. The blood drive will be from noon to 6:15 p.m. Friday at the LaCrosse Town Hall.

“All blood collected will go toward the local hospital to save local people,” said Joe Fairbanks, southern territory manager for Vitalant, formerly know as Inland Northwest Blood Center.

The grant would be used for S.T.E.M purposes at the LaCrosse School District, which gives leeway for what the school can use it for, he said.

Fairbanks said to receive the grant, each participating town must conduct two blood drives that collect a total of 60 donations. LaCrosse will need 36 donors for his blood drive because during the last drive they had 24 donors.

“We want to use this as a way to teach students the importance of giving blood while they are young,” Fairbanks said.

Those who want to donate can schedule an appointment by calling 549-3330 or visit http://www.vitalant.org.

Fairbanks noted it is important people show up to their scheduled appointments because the shelf life of blood is limited to 42 days, so they cannot collect too much or too little blood.

“We are the guardians of the local blood supply,” he said.

Fairbanks said cancer treatment is the number-one user of blood donations.

Walk-ins are welcome and those participating must bring a photo identification.

The program can award $7,000 in grants to the local area this year; Fairbanks said he hopes they can award $14,000 in grants next year.

He noted the Colfax School District has agreed to participate in the program next year. The goal is to get more schools to sign up.

“You’re saving lives and helping out the community at the same time,” Fairbanks said.