Guard to partner with Red Cross for second annual blood drive

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo -- The 1140th Engineer Battalion is teaming up again with the Southeast Missouri chapter of the American Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive that will be held at the Cape Girardeau armory on May 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The armory is located at 2626 Independence St.

"It's not a military blood drive, it's a civilian blood drive but the Guard is working hand in hand with the Red Cross," said 1st Lt. McClellan Gaono, an organizer of the event.

Last year, 40 people donated blood and this year Gaono said the goal is 42.

"We really hope people will turn out to donate blood," Gaono said. "It's a fantastic cause."

Eight stations will be set up on the armory's main floor, Gaono said, meaning there should be little waiting time.

According to the Red Cross, every minute of every day, someone needs blood. Currently only 3 out of every 100 people in America donate blood.

"We depend on organizations like the Missouri Army National Guard," said Rene Goodman, Red Cross donor recruitment representative. "We can't just go downtown and pull up a bus and ask people off the street. We need a place and people who will put their time and effort to make it work. The Guard provides both of those."

Goodman said the organizations that host the event also benefit.

"It's a good morale booster," she said. "It helps everybody and they know at the end of the day they've done their civic duty."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.