November 29, 2021 For Immediate Release Gift Collection for Senior Citizens in Grand Island Grand Island, NE: Gifts for Grands, a donation drive is being organized to help senior citizens in Grand Island today through December 15. There are in-need grandparents who could use a helpin...

November 29, 2021 For Immediate Release Gift Collection for Senior Citizens in Grand Island Grand Island, NE: Gifts for Grands, a donation drive is being organized to help senior citizens in Grand Island today through December 15. There are in-need grandparents who could use a helping hand this holiday season. The Grand Generation Center will designate the recipients of the gifts collected dependent upon their financial situation. Gift ideas include: scarves, hats, scarves, socks, sweaters, coats, blankets, and non-perishable food items. Drop-off locations include: • Grand Generation Center (304 East 3rd) • Angels Care Home Health (2550 N. Diers Ave., Ste. K) • Primrose (3990 W. Capital Ave.) • Riverside Lodge (404 Woodland Drive) The four business sponsors are Angels Care Home Health, Bridges for Senior Living, Primrose Retirement Communities, and Riverside Lodge Retirement Community. Wal-Mart North also supplied an in-store gift card. If there are any questions, please contact Rob at Angels Care Home Health, 308-589-0170. # # #

Enjoy the Joyous Sounds of Christmas Concert by Kevin & Heidi Cheng at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Doniphan, NE Sunday nite, Dec 19, 7pm. No charge for the hour long concert. Free Will Donation.

Enjoy the Joyous Sounds of Christmas Concert by Kevin & Heidi Cheng at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Doniphan, NE Sunday nite, Dec 19, 7pm. No charge for the hour long concert. Free Will Donation.

Bethesda Church to Present Handel’s Messiah December 19 Handel's Messiah is one of the finest wonders of the musical world. Written for Easter, it took time for Messiah to find its niche as a Christmas favorite as the whole first part is about the birth of Christ. The Bethesda Mennonite Chu...

Bethesda Church to Present Handel’s Messiah December 19 Handel's Messiah is one of the finest wonders of the musical world. Written for Easter, it took time for Messiah to find its niche as a Christmas favorite as the whole first part is about the birth of Christ. The Bethesda Mennonite Church Choir presents Handel’s Messiah on December 19, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. at Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson, Nebraska at 930 16th Street. This free event will celebrate the birth of Christ in song this Christmas. The choir, directed by Rod Drews will be accompanied by the Nebraska Symphony Chamber Orchestra and Laura Steingard, harpsichord. Soloists include: Leah Purdy, Soprano; Kate Butler, Mezzo-Soprano; Richard Drews, Tenor; and William Shamos, Bass. The Bethesda Mennonite Church Chancel Choir has a rich tradition of a high level of music performance for both worship service settings and special performances. All performances by the Chancel Choir are intended to be an outreach of Bethesda Mennonite Church. Besides Messiah, the choir has presented Vivaldi’s Gloria, Durante’s Magnificat, and David Willcock’s Christmas Carols with orchestra and soloists. The first presentation of Messiah at Bethesda was in 1969 under the direction of Don Peters with soloists and keyboard accompaniment. In 1981 the choir began a partnership with the Nebraska Symphony Chamber Orchestra from Lincoln, Nebraska to accompany the performance. This relationship continues to the present day. Every three years, Bethesda makes the commitment to offer this type of outreach to the public. There is no cost for admission, and the service is supported by a free will offering.

The American Red Cross will host the Tri-Cities Holiday Blood Drive with (STATION YOU'RE TRACKING)December 28, 2021 from Noon to 6 p.m.o The blood drive will take place at three locations. First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (501 N. Burlington Ave., Hastings, NE 68901)

The American Red Cross will host the Tri-Cities Holiday Blood Drive with (STATION YOU'RE TRACKING)
December 28, 2021 from Noon to 6 p.m.
o The blood drive will take place at three locations.
 First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (501 N. Burlington Ave., Hastings, NE 68901)
 YWCA Grand Island, 211 (East Fonner Park Road, Grand Island, NE 68801)
 Ft. Kearney Chapter (520 W. 48 th St., Kearney, NE 68847)

o All presenting donors will receive a special Red Cross t-shirt, while supplies last.
 Eligible donors are encouraged to make an appointment to donate at the Holiday
Blood Drive.

o To make an appointment to donate:
 Download the free Red Cross Blood Donor app
 Visit RedCrossBlood.org
 Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
 Enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device
o Use sponsor code: Tri-Cities Holiday
o Use Rapid Pass to save time at your donation. Visit
RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to access.
 The Red Cross has an emergency blood and platelet shortage. Donor turnout has
reached the lowest levels of the year as many delayed giving amid a return to the
workplace and in-person learning for many families, as well as the recent surge in
COVID-19 cases across the country due to the delta variant.

o Blood product distributions to hospitals have remained strong, significantly
outpacing blood donations in recent weeks.

o While it is clear that the pandemic continues to weigh heavily on people’s lives,
the Red Cross asks the public to remember that donating blood is essential to
help save the lives of patients who depend on the availability of blood.
o Blood cannot be manufactured or stockpiled and can only be made available
through the kindness of volunteer donors.
 In most cases, there is no blood donation deferral time after receiving a COVID-19
vaccine.
o Knowing the name of the vaccine manufacturer is important in determining blood
donation eligibility.

o If an individual is experiencing any symptoms from the COVID-19 vaccine, the
Red Cross asks that they postpone their donation until they are feeling better.
 The health and safety of everyone attending Red Cross blood drives across
the country is a priority, especially as COVID-19 cases are surging again.
• The Red Cross resumed requiring all blood donors, staff and others at our
blood drives and donation centers to wear face masks regardless of their
vaccination status Aug. 9.
o Healthy individuals are needed to donate now and throughout the fall to help
patients counting on lifesaving blood. Invite friends and family to join in this act of
kindness – it can make a lifesaving difference in ensuring patients receive the
care they need.
 At each blood drive and donation center, Red Cross employees have always
followed thorough safety protocols to help prevent the spread of any type of
infection, including:
o Wearing gloves and changing gloves often
o Routinely disinfecting donor-touched areas
o Using sterile collection sets for every donation, and
o Preparing the arm for donation with an aseptic scrub.
o During this pandemic, the Red Cross has additional precautions in place—in
alignment with CDC guidance—to ensure the safety of our employees,
volunteers and donors.
SUPPLEMENTAL MESSAGES
 The American Red Cross must collect enough blood every day to meet the needs
of accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and
those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease.
o The Red Cross collects, processes and distributes about 40% of the nation’s
blood supply.

o Each day, the Red Cross needs to collect about 12,500 blood donations and
more than 2,700 platelet donations to meet the needs of patients at about 2,500
hospitals and other facilities across the country.

o The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the United
States needs blood. There is no substitute for donated blood.

o A single blood donation can help save more than one life.
 Year-round, the Red Cross has a constant need for blood and platelet donors.

o Blood donations remain essential to the health of communities.

o Blood can be safely donated every 56 days and Power Reds can be donated
every 112 days.

o Platelets can be given every seven days – up to 24 times a year.

o Red blood cells have a shelf life of just 42 days. Platelets have a shelf life of just
five days.

o Donated blood is perishable. Red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days.
Prepare yourself for a successful blood donation today.

o Donors are encouraged to drink plenty of water before and after giving blood.

o Eat a healthy meal with iron-rich foods like red meat, beans or spinach before
your donation. Avoid fatty foods if possible.

o It’s the blood products on the shelves today that help save lives in an emergency.

GriefShare Support Group Help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. Will meet in the fellowship hall. Enter through the East doors. Beginning Thursday January 6, 2022 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

GriefShare Support Group Help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member, or friend. Will meet in the fellowship hall. Enter through the East doors. Beginning Thursday January 6, 2022 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.