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Red Cross still seeking blood, cash donations

By Caroline Trowbridge - | Sep 19, 2001

The executive director of the Leavenworth County chapter of the American Red Cross said support for her agency’s efforts on the East Coast have been strong.

On Friday, the county chapter conducted a blood drive, which actually had been scheduled before last week’s attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

“We had nearly 250 individuals come through, and we drew 125 pints of blood,” said Jo Burkett of the Red Cross. “Some people just couldn’t wait; the lines were horrendous. There was a lot of outpouring of support, which was marvelous.”

Burkett said the need for blood donations remains high.

“I think there’s a rumor around that we have enough blood,” she said. “But the White House has asked the American Red Cross the store a year’s worth of blood products. That’s the reason the Red Cross continues to draw a large quantity of blood. We have a long way to go. It will take a lot of donors to get us that far out.”

Burkett is hopeful she can schedule blood drives soon and she wants at least one of those to be in the south portion of the county.

The Red Cross also is asking for donations of cash. So far, the agency has raised nearly $12,000 in Leavenworth County.

“One-hundred percent of that money will be going to the New York, Washington, D.C., areas,” Burkett said. “I don’t think we’ve had any designated anywhere else.”

For additional information or to donate money, contact the county chapter of the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 255, Leavenworth, 66048; (913) 682-6222.