March is American Red Cross Month in West Bloomfield

While March is sometimes associated with green — whether it's spring grass or the shamrocks of St. Patrick's Day — West Bloomfield is seeing red this month.

That's because March is American Red Cross Month in West Bloomfield, according to a proclamation passed at Monday's meeting of the West Bloomfield Township Board.

"This community is exceptionally generous," said Deb Macon, chair of the southeast Michigan blood service region for the American Red Cross, during the Monday night meeting.

According to the proclamation read into record by Township Clerk Catherine Shaughnessy, American Red Cross donations support victims of disaster, whether it's a local fire or a super storm, like Hurricane Sandy. The Red Cross currently supplies America's hospitals with more than half of their blood.

"Our region continues to be generous supporters of the American Red Cross, donating time, money and life-saving blood," the proclamation reads.

March is typically designated the official Red Cross month across the country, but Macon pointed out that West Bloomfield is special for the Red Cross's local chapter.

"West Bloomfield is home to the volunteer leadership of the American Red Cross," Macon said, noting that Red Cross Chair Jim Bayson has been a resident of the area for 34 years.

West Bloomfield has several Red Cross blood drives lined up this March and April:

March 21

• Henry Ford Hospital West Bloomfield
• Noon-5:45 p.m.

April 14

• St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church
• 9 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

April 25

• West Bloomfield High School
• 7:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

To schedule an appointment for any of these blood drives, or blood drives in surrounding cities, visit the American Red Cross website.