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Community Corner

Blood, Donations to Red Cross Will Help Missouri, Others

A blood drive is being held Monday at Scotch Elementary School.

As victims of the latest deadly tornado that hit Missouri Sunday night struggle to recover their belongings and find their loved ones, the American Red Cross is accepting donations of blood and funds as they work to help storm-ravaged neighborhoods across the South and Midwest.

The Red Cross opened a shelter in Joplin, MO, Sunday night, while continuing to serve areas hit by tornadoes and/or flooding in the last few weeks in Kentucky, Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and New York.

Mississippi River flooding alone has forced more than 1,000 people to seek refuge in shelters across the South, according to the Red Cross.

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The Red Cross estimates that it will spend as much as $31 million responding to the disasters, while preparing to launch another large-scale relief operation to help people along the Mississippi River. To date, about $16 million has been raised in donations.

To make a donation, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC, 20013.

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In addition, a blood drive is being held at Monday from 2:30-8:30 p.m. Accepted donation types include blood and double red cell donations. Online appointments are no longer being accepted for this drive, so those interested in donating should call 1-800-RED-CROSS for availability.

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