Editor,

I would like to thank everyone who made our recent Barre Blood Drive a success. We collected 100 pints of life-saving blood, which will help restore the supply depleted by the cancellation of drives due to the weather. Special thanks go to the Barre Elks Club and Project Independence for providing the space and the goodies for our donors. We would not be able to hold the drives without their help.

May 11th is my last drive as Coordinator of the Barre Blood Drive. I have found a wonderful volunteer who will distribute the posters. We are still looking for two people to help coordinate the drive at the Elks Club, individuals to work at the registration desk and the canteen, and one or two people to help with print and media publicity. Please call me at 249-5977 or e-mail me at jcookvt@aol.com if you can help in any way. The drives are held in January, March, May, July, September, and November and with many hands, the jobs aren’t unmanageable. I am also looking for local businesses who would like to sponsor the canteen for one of the drives. Project Independence makes the sandwiches and delicious cookies, so sponsorship would involve underwriting the cost of these refreshments. For $150 your business would be prominently featured on all the posters and in the print and media publicity.

It has been an honor to be part of this blood drive since 1999. Our next drive on May 11 follows Mother’s day. Let’s show the love we have for our mothers by breaking all kinds of records. I hope my phone will soon be ringing off the hook with many great Central Vermonters calling to volunteer. The time is small, the rewards are great.

Judy A. Cookson—Red Cross volunteer
Bare, VT