Local Red Cross accepting blood, monetary gifts

Local Red Cross branches are accepting blood and monetary donations to aid relief efforts in New York, Washington, D.C and Pennsylvania. \n"This region is making 80,000 units of blood available," disaster services volunteer Tom Ross said. Available units -- which will be used as necessary by the national division of the American Red Cross -- are being made from reserve supplies. \nInterested donors are advised to call ahead for an appointment, said Red Cross employee Simone Vigilante. As of Tuesday afternoon, donor times were booked until Sept. 21, but Vigilante stressed that blood will still be needed a week from now. At the moment, no additional donor sites are planned since regional Bloodmobiles are being used in Louisville.\n"Right now we are taking as many people as we possibly can," Vigilante said. \nAll blood types are needed. Interested donors must be at least 17 years old, 110 pounds and in good health. The Red Cross will not accept blood from those who have received unsterile tatoos or piercings in the last year. The donor must not have been to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Mann or the Channel Islands for six months or more between 1980 and 1996. If on antibiotics, donors must wait to give blood until 3 days after their last dose.\nVolunteers are also advised to eat before donating and will fill out a personal questionnaire in order to be eligible. Donors should follow up their visits by drinking plenty of liquids.\n"For the most part it is no problem," Vigilante said.\nSenior Nick Hargett and sophomore Bryan Brinkmeyer tried to donate after watching the news all morning and wanting to help. Both were asked to make an appointment and come back. \nBloomington resident Martha Harsanyi, a regular blood donor, left work to donate.\n"It was one of the very few things I could do," Harsanyi said. \nMonetary donations are also being accepted and relief efforts will cost the Red Cross millions of dollars, Ross said. Money donors can call 1-800-HELP-NOW or make checks out to the American Red Cross, earmarked for the disaster. Checks can be mailed or delivered in person to the local chapter. \nAviation Response Teams have been activated throughout the country, Disaster and Volunteer Services Director Ed Vande Sande said. Local volunteers were packed and waiting for a deployment order Tuesday afternoon. The first group of volunteers includes mental health, health service and mass care workers. \n"We are still very much in response mode," Vande Sande said. \nMonroe County's Red Cross division is also prepared to shelter the overflow of people stranded at the Indianapolis Airport if needed. \nStudents and community members who are unable to locate a family member or friend in any of the affected areas can call the Red Cross at (812) 332-7292 and ask for the Disaster Welfare Inquiry. Vande Sande also suggests trying to send an e-mail or overnight letter, although it may be delayed due to flight cancellations.