The next Miller Keystone community blood drive will be from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. today at the St. John’s Lutheran Church, 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.

It is estimated that 38 percent of the US population is eligible to donate, yet only about 3 percent do.

In Palmerton volunteers are working hard to increase that percentage.

The goal is to collect 65 units at the September drive, which could save 195 lives.

The center serves 23 local community hospitals including; Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Luke’s, Sacred Heart Hospital, Grand View Health, Penn State Health St. Joseph, Penn State Hershey, Reading Health System, and Hunterdon Healthcare.

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, individuals 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.