News briefs: Donation shortfall may impact blood supply

The American Red Cross has seen a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of the summer, which makes it hard to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood products. By making an appointment to give blood or platelets in August, donors can keep the national blood supply from falling to shortage levels.

Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive, type B negative and type A negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors. For those who don’t know their blood type, making a donation is an easy way to find out this important personal health information. The Red Cross will notify new donors of their blood type soon after they give.

The Red Cross needs donors now. Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

All who come to give throughout the month of August will get a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of their choice. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Movie.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Aug. 16-31:

Baltimore

Aug. 26:: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mt. Zion Church, 4810 Blacklick-Eastern Rd NW

Lancaster

Aug. 17: 12 to 6 p.m., St. Mark Church, 324 Gay St.

Pickerington

Aug. 19: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Violet Twp. Fire Dept., 8700 Refugee Road

Aug. 24: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pickerington Church of the Nazarene, 11775 Pickerington Rd. NW

How to donate blood

To make an appointment, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. 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.

Summer Crisis Program available

The Ohio Department of Development and Lancaster Fairfield County Community Action Agency will help income eligible Ohioans stay cool during the hot summer months. The Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program provides eligible Ohioans assistance paying an electric bill, assist with air conditioners/fans, and/or assistance paying for central air conditioning repairs. The program runs until Sept. 30.

To apply for the program, clients are required to schedule a phone appointment with Lancaster Fairfield Community Action Agency. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 740-777-9055.

Clients need to bring copies of the following documents to the agency prior to their phone appointment:

• Copies of their most recent energy bills.
• A list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.
• Proof of disability (if applicable).
• Physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health (if there isn’t a household member over the age of 60, or there is not a disconnect notice for the electric).

Last year, more than 539 families in Fairfield County were assisted through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program.

The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), households who can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for their health, households that have a disconnect notice, have been shut off, are trying to establish new service on their electric bill.Eligible households can receive up to $500 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $800 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives. The assistance is applied to their electric bill, and/or to purchase an air conditioning unit, fans, and pay for central air conditioning repairs. Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. For a family of four the annual income must be at or below $52,500.00.

Also, Ohioans enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) program who meet the above criteria may be eligible for assistance towards their default PIPP payment, first PIPP payment, central air conditioning repairs, or may receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan.

For more information about the features of the Summer Crisis Program and what is needed to apply, contact Lancaster Fairfield Community Action at 740-653-4146. To be connected to your local Energy Assistance provider visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or call (800) 282-0880.

FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. Hosts Wine, Vines, and Fall Times Event

LOGAN — FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. will host a Wine, Vines, and Fall Times event on Thursday, September 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hocking Hills Winery.

The event includes an exclusive wine tasting of six unique glasses of wine. Guests will also enjoy a charcuterie appetizer table and dessert. All donations from the event will support the FAIRHOPE Memorial Fund. This fund allows FAIRHOPE to provide end-of-life care to chronically and terminally ill patients who otherwise could not afford care and assists with other special patient needs and non-reimbursable program services.

“We look forward to spending the evening in Hocking County for this new event,” said Kristin Glasure,

President/CEO of FAIRHOPE. “The community has embraced our organization for nearly 40 years, and we’re forever grateful for their support. We look forward to an evening celebrating life.”

The sponsors who have helped to make the event possible are Logan Daily News, Bill Hoag Drywall and Shaw Real Estate.

Attendees are encouraged to register in advance at https://bit.ly/3OkNtp7. Tickets will also be sold at the door, however space is limited to 50 guests.

To donate, please follow the donation link here: https://bit.ly/3OKiqEy

To learn more about FAIRHOPE Hospice & Palliative Care, visit www.fairhopehospice.org, or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FairhopeHospice

Meetings

• Fairfield County District Library Board of Trustees will meet at Fairfield Federal Savings & Loan due to the Main Library’s elevator being under repair. The Fairfield County District Library Board of Trustees will move its regular Board meetings scheduled for Aug. 15, Sept. 19, and Oct. 17 at 10:15 a.m. to Fairfield Federal Savings & Loan, 111 East Main Street, Room 317.
• The Village of Carroll Finance Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss 2024 water and sewer rates, utility payments, and any other business brought before the committee.
• The Village of Carroll Service Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 29. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Carroll Community Civic Center lease, and any other business brought before the committee.
• The Village of Carroll Planning and Zoning Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21. The purpose of the meeting is to review the proposed revisions of rezoning and preliminary development plan from approximately 72.201 acres located at 0 Carroll-Northern Rd., tax parcel 0160150510, from Rural Residential (RR) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) request. The meeting will be held at the Municipal Office, 68 Center St., Carroll, OH 43112