Blood drive aimed at keeping supply high during holidays

Hoping to avert a blood shortage during the holidays, the Inland Northwest Blood Center is sponsoring a four-week blood drive starting this week.

Organizers are offering incentives that range from T-shirts to the chance to win a stay at a timeshare or a downtown hotel package. The goal is to avoid an annual drop in donations that coincides with bad weather and busy holiday schedules, said Brett Johnson, marketing coordinator for the agency.

“We try to keep it at a four- to five-day level,” Johnson said. “Last year, we got down to one-day level. It was very concerning.”

Local officials figure it takes 150 units of blood every day to sustain the needs of patients in the Inland Northwest.

Participants may donate blood at several sites. Those who do during the next four weeks will receive a “retro” Inland Northwest Blood Center T-shirt. They also will be entered into a drawing for a one-week stay at a Royal Aloha Vacation Club condominium timeshare in Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, Missouri, Mexico or Spain. Or they could win a “night on the town” package for two at Spokane’s Davenport Hotel, including dinner and entertainment.

Collection centers include the following sites:

•Spokane: 210 W. Cataldo Ave.

•Coeur d’Alene: 1341 Northwood Center Court.

•Lewiston: 1213 21st St.

Hospital centers include Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Valley Hospital and Medical Center in the Spokane Valley and Samaritan Healthcare in Moses Lake.

For more information or to make a donation appointment, call (509) 624-0151 or (800) 423-0151.

Group Health grant will help disabled children

The Group Health Community Foundation has awarded a $14,200 grant to the Spokane Guilds’ School and Neuromuscular Center. The funds will support the care of children with disabilities, providing physical therapy, speech therapy and education.

The center serves about 200 children and their families a year. About three-quarters of those served are low-income.

The grant is one of six totaling $95,200 awarded to Washington state organizations that help kids with disabilities. Group Health Community Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Group Health Cooperative. More than 5,600 donors contribute to the foundation each year.