
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 21, 1995                   TAG: 9502210064
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TAKE NOTE

Why not get an early start on March's National Red Cross month by helping out a neighbor today? Winter weather has diminished blood donations, causing the Red Cross to loose several full day's worth of collections. The Appalachian Region is charged with collecting 260 units a day, to meet the needs of area hospitals.

Virginia Tech is the single largest supplier of blood, giving about 3,000 units a year. The Red Cross will be collecting blood from Tuesday to Thursday at Squires Student Center from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and has set a goal of 150 units a day. You can also go to the New River Donor Center on Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m. in downtown Blacksburg.

The Red Cross estimates 95 percent of the population will need a blood donation some time during their lives, yet only 5 percent of people who can donate actually do so. Blood donations have declined 2 percent in the two years.

by CNB