Sticking an arm for those in need

Angela Walker, a collection technician with the American Red Cross, preps Garrett Sprenger's arm for his blood donation Thursday at the Missouri Department of Conservation Nature Center in Cape Girardeau. "We've had a really good turnout today," said Michelle Johnson, donor recruitment representative for the American Red Cross. There is an "urgent need for platelets and blood. ... We need people to donate," she said. Ninety-seven percent of the country's population will need blood or blood product in their lifetime, and only 5 percent of the population donates each year. Upcoming blood drives will be from 3 to 7 p.m. July 15 at Mount Auburn Christian Church, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 18 at Saint Francis Medical Center from 2 to 6 p.m. July 22 at Culver's, and from 3 to 7 p.m. July 23 at the Osage Centre. People also can make an appointment to donate at the Cape Girardeau Red Cross office. For more blood drive dates and locations, visit redcrossblood.org.