Miller-Keystone’s community blood drive at the St. Luke’s in Palmerton on July 8 drew 40 potential donors, and 25 units of blood were collected. Several donors reached their gallon milestones and there were first time donors as well.

Many volunteers are involved in a blood drive. They included: Helen Nonnemaker, Beverly Hargreaves, Terri Sebelin, Marge Parambo, Helen Nonnemaker, Tara Wargo, Marian Hoffner, Cindy Heimbach, Sue Olivia, Brenda Wentz, Darlene Nothstein, Romaine Beige, Pamela Andrews, Marybeth Beers, Linda Frey, Jane Cervenak, Shirley Greene, Mary Taschler, Carol Papay, Evelyn Plechavy, Bernice Kleintop, Dorothy Strohl, Anastia Hinkle and Jean Fritzinger, among others.

The next Miller-Keystone community blood drive in Palmerton will be on Sept. 9 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Towamensing, 2915 Fireline Road, Palmerton. September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and many recipients of transfusions are cancer patients, including children. In observance of this as well as Sept. 9 being National Teddy Bear Day, Blood Drive Coordinator Alice Wanamaker has promised to donate a teddy bear to a local pediatric oncology center for every donor that comes to the drive on Sept. 9 in Palmerton.

Donors are encouraged to visit www.giveapint.org and schedule their donation times. Donors can save time by completing the donor history questionnaire prior to your donation with iScreen from the registration page.

In order to donate blood, people must be 16 years of age or older, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, feel healthy on the day of their donation and provide valid identification. Consent of parent/guardian is required for 16-year-old donors; additional donor eligibility requirements can be found at GIVEaPINT.org.

To schedule an appointment or volunteer with the Palmerton Area Community Blood Drive, contact Alice Wanamaker at 484-274-2080 or AliceW@CarbonCountyChamber.org appointments can also be scheduled online at giveapint.org and reference sponsor code 1361.