Community Roundup: Oct. 19
Blood and platelet donations up but Red Cross needs more
Since announcing a national blood and platelet shortage a month ago, thousands of donors across the country have rolled up a sleeve to help rebuild the American Red Cross blood and platelet supply. As that generosity continues, the Red Cross is working around the clock to ensure patients have access to lifesaving transfusions and must collect 10,000 additional blood and platelet donations – over and above expectations – each week over the next month to sufficiently meet hospital needs. Donors of all blood types are urged to book a time to give now, especially those with type O blood or those giving platelets.
Don’t wait – patients are counting on critical care this fall. To make an appointment, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit the website or call 800-733-2767.
To encourage more blood and platelet donations, the Red Cross is offering incentives to donors over the next month. All who come to give Oct. 21-Nov. 9 will receive a $10 gift card to a restaurant of their choice to enjoy lunch on the Red Cross. They’ll also be automatically entered to win a $5,000 gift card. There will be three lucky winners — one chosen at random each week. Details are available on the website.
As cold and flu season approaches, the Red Cross is reminding donors that they can still give blood and platelet after receiving a flu vaccine, so long as they are feeling healthy and well on the day of their donation. Likewise, there is no deferral or wait time for those receiving the updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities nearby:
- Vergennes
Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.,
Victory Baptist Church, 862 US-7 - Burlington
Oct. 20, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
University of Vermont Waterman Building,
85 So. Prospect St., - Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m., CrossFit
Burlington, 39 Birchcliff Pkwy. - Essex Junction
Oct. 20, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
73 Essex Way - Hinesburg
Nov. 9, 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.,
United Church of Hinesburg,
10580 Route 116.
Age Well offering Grab & Go meal & Thanksgiving luncheon
Age Well and St. Catherine of Siena in Shelburne are teaming up to provide a meal-to-go for anyone age 60 and older on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
The meal will be available for pick up in the parking lot at 72 Church Street 11 a.m.-noon. These meals are available for all 60 or older. These meals are nutritious and delicious. A $5 donation is suggested.
The menu is: roast turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, carrots, cranberry sauce, wheat roll, pumpkin pie with cream, and milk.
A $5 donation is suggested, but not required.
To order a meal contact Kathleen by Wednesday, Nov. 8, by email (preferred) or phone: 802-503-1107. If this is a first-time order, please provide: name, address, phone number and date of birth.
If you haven’t yet filled out a 2024 congregate meal registration, please bring a completed registration form with you or send one to: Age Well; 875 Roosevelt Highway, Ste. 210; Colchester, VT. 05446. Or there will be forms at meal pick up.
An Age Well representative will also be available to obtain the suggested $5 donation for restaurant tickets to dine at one of the participating restaurants. More information on this program is on the Age Well site.
St. Catherine of Siena and Age Well are also offering a Thanksgiving turkey luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 16, in the St. Catherine of Siena Parish Hall.
The check-in time for the Thanksgiving luncheon is 11:30 a.m. and the meal will be served at noon. There is a $5 suggested donation. The menu is roast turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, carrots, cranberry sauce, wheat roll, pumpkin pie with cream and milk. There will be a raffle and entertainment. You must register by Nov. 10 by contacting Kerry Batres, nutrition coordinator, at 802-662-5283 or email.
Design a robot, dig rain garden, explore making astronauts safe
Whether you want to design a robot to go for Olympic gold, dig into rain gardens or explore ways to make astronauts safe in space, STEM Showcase 5.0 offers all this and more for youths, ages 8-14.
The STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) event takes place on Nov. 4, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the University of Vermont in Burlington.
Attendance is free, but registration is required at go.uvm.edu/stem5. Registrations will be accepted until Nov. 1 or until all spaces are filled. Registered participants will receive a confirmation email that includes the event location and parking details.
Participants may sign up for two of the five hands-on workshops. Options include the Magic of Rain Gardens: Design a Water Wonderland!; What Floats your Boat?: Civil Engineering; Crossroads of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering: Strength and Materials; Let’s Go for Gold: Robot Olympics; and Dressing for the Stars: Galactic Garb.
To request language interpretation, translation assistance or a disability-related accommodation to participate, contact 4-H educator Margaret Coan at 802-656-7634 or email by Oct. 20.