Mrs. Cheyenne County Organizes Blood Drive

In her drive toward the possible crown of Mrs. Nebraska, Ylani Cole hasn't let an opportunity to represent or serve go by.

As Mrs. Cheyenne County, Cole has made nearly 40 appearances since July, representing the county and its residents in a number of ways. Now, she's willing to give blood to help the county.

As she looked for ways to help the area, Cole had put "give blood" on her list of things to do late last year. But when it came time to cross that item off, Cole said she couldn't find a blood drive close by, so she's doing the project one better by organizing a blood drive in Sidney.

Cole said in her search for a blood drive, she looked at the American Red Cross website and stopped looking. On that site, she learned she could host a blood drive within the community.

"When I found out I could host a drive, I didn't look any further," Cole said. "I felt it would be so much better to host a drive than to just give blood."

Cole contacted the Red Cross and the Cheyenne Community Center, setting March 5 for a drive, where community members can donate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Word of the drive has spread quickly and Cole estimates about 40 percent of the slots, one every 15 minutes of the drive time, are spoken for. She hopes that between now and then, the drive will collect blood in every slot available.

Cole said donors can register by emailing her at [email protected] or by calling or texting 307-631-8470. That will begin the process, although she said those wanting to donate can also go to the Community Center the day of the drive and they will be processed into open slots.

Since 1943, every president has designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the American Red Cross and its supporters help people in need. According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds. Accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood. All blood types are needed.

To learn more, those interested can download the American Red Cross Blood Donor Arm by visiting redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS ( 1-800-733-2767).

Completion of a Rapid Pass online health history questionnaire found at redcrossblood.org/ragidgass is encouraged to help speed up the donation process. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.