Graafschap Fire Department is lending a hand – and a space – to help the community.
The fire station, 4534 60th St., will be the site of an American Red Cross blood drive on Thursday, Aug. 31, from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. This is the first time the station has been used for this.
“Our biomedical team is always looking to expand into new areas and territories across Michigan, and we have found working with fire departments to be a natural way to connect within our communities,” said Alicia Dorr, regional communications manager for the Red Cross in Michigan. “People know and trust fire departments as places for community resources.”
Community events
The Graafschap Fire Department is not new to hosting community service events.
The department has free weekly blood pressure checks at the facility from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays. The popular July Fourth pancake breakfast draws more than a thousand people to the site to help raise funds for the department.
The department is also engaged in Community Risk Reduction, providing home safety inspections and an expanded smoke/carbon monoxide detector program.
“We are taking a proactive approach to public safety by reaching out and meeting with residents before a potential incident. Prevention is a big part of safety in the home,” said fire department Captain Dave Grumney.
Need for blood
Blood and platelet donations typically decrease over the summer and this season has been no exception.
“The need for blood doesn’t take a summer break,” Dorr said.
To make an appointment for the Graafschap event, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code GFD, or call (800) RED CROSS (733-2767).