Blood Drive to Salute U.S. Veterans Saturday, Nov. 10

Bellaire… Community National Bank (CNB) has joined forces with the VFW Post 5619 and the Rotary Club of Bellaire/Southwest Houston to sponsor its annual Blood Drive saluting U.S. Veterans Saturday, November 10, 9 a.m. to noon. The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center mobile unit will be stationed in front of the bank, 5123 Bellaire Boulevard at South Rice.

The Veteran’s Salute Blood Drive also will serve as a collection site for new children’s toys for the VFW Post 5619’s Toys for Tots drive, as well as for grocery or other gift cards to donate to families of wounded vets (Rotary Community Shower project) and for complete Sunday morning newspaper coupon inserts to give to families of armed forces overseas (Rotary Houston Overseas Coupon Project.)

“Partnering with the VFW and Rotary, we hope to achieve our most successful blood drive ever, plus help these organizations with these three deserving service projects,” said Randy Dobbs, Community National Bank Chairman/CEO.

Potential blood donors may register at www.giveblood.org, using sponsor code J096, said Brian Tave, a Rotarian and CNB vice president who is heading up the blood drive.

According to The Blood Center, one pint of blood is needed every 1.3 seconds and 800 donations are needed daily in the Houston community. One donation may save three lives, such as trauma victims, surgery patients, premature babies and those with anemia and cancer.

Blood usage continues to increase each year, while the eligible donor base continues to decrease because of the travel restrictions imposed by the FDA.

Blood donors must be 17 or older (16 with parental consent), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds (122 pounds for age 16), in general good health without cold or flu symptoms, and bring a valid photo ID prior to the donation. Prospective donors are permanently deferred if they have (partial list) a history of hepatitis (after age 11); HIV; chronic kidney disease, coronary heart disease; internal cancer requiring surgery; or uncontrolled diabetes.

Houston Area Rotary Clubs support U.S. veterans several ways, including “Homes for Vets” in partnership with Mayor Bill White and the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes Houston, whereby Rotarians help disabled veterans ease back into civilian life with homes built with project funds raised. Bellaire Rotarians also collect and distribute grocery and other gift cards to families of wounded veterans in the area to help with their living expenses as part of Houston Area Rotary’s “Community Shower” project. The local Rotarians support the area-wide Rotary initiative that sends grocery and other coupons to families of armed forces overseas. These coupons are reported to subsidize at least $100 in the average family.

“Since wives of military families overseas with children rarely can find work overseas, this is a big help,” explained Nan Wagoner, president of the Rotary Club of Bellaire/Southwest Houston. “We encourage Blood Drive attendees to bring complete coupon inserts from Sunday papers to donate November 10. Coupons should not be clipped and that any Sunday inserts donated should not have their pages rearranged,” she said. Due to the volume processed each week, pages from several identical inserts are matched and “gang-cut”, sometimes 25 pages at a time.
The Rotary Club of Bellaire/Southwest Houston is one of 31,000 Rotary clubs in more than 165 countries that provide humanitarian services and promote goodwill around the globe. Information regarding Rotary grants, membership, and charitable projects may be found at www.bellairesw.org and on the Rotary International website at www.rotary.org.
Community National Bank is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The drive-through bank, 5235 Bellaire Boulevard at Ferris St., is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to noon. The FDIC insures the deposits of Community National Bank, an equal opportunity lender. For further information, call (713) 664-4777 or go to the web, www.commnatlbank.com.

Release at will
Contact: Susan Farb Morris,
(713) 661-7377 susan@farbulous.com
Community National Bank,
Rotary Club of Bellaire/Southwest Houston and
VFW Post 5619 to Sponsor Blood Drive

Blood Drive to Salute U.S. Veterans
Saturday, Nov. 10


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