Briefs: Red Cross blood drives, St. Paul’s rummage sale, Ohio minimum wage going up

Red Cross seeks donors to ease blood and platelet shortage

The American Red Cross continues to experience a national blood and platelet shortage and asks the public to book a time to give as soon as possible. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially type O blood donors and those giving platelets.

The Red Cross experienced a significant blood and platelet donation shortfall in August, contributing to the current blood and platelet shortage. To ensure the blood supply recovers, the Red Cross must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month to meet hospital and patient needs.

The following blood drives are currently scheduled in Crawford County:

• Bucyrus, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Amvets Post 27 – Bucyrus, 235 E. Galen St.
• Crestline, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Crestline High School, 7854 Oldfield Road
• Galion, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Galion Alliance Church, 430 Portland Way N.
• New Washington, Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 110 S. Kibler St.

The Red Cross offers three ways to make a donation appointment: Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App; visit RedCrossBlood.org; or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

As a thank-you, those who come to give through Oct. 20 will receive a $15 Amazon.com Gift Card by email.

Church rummage sale this week

The ladies of COTTA at St Paul’s Lutheran Church at 130 S. Walnut St. in Bucyrus will be holding their fall rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. The Saturday Sale will feature the “Bag Sale” allowing customers to fill a 13 ounce bag for $1/bag.

Rummage sale items include clothing, books, household items and other items for all ages.

Ohio minimum wage to increase in 2024

COLUMBUS — Ohio’s minimum wage is scheduled to increase on Jan. 1, 2024, to $10.45 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.25 per hour for tipped employees. The minimum wage will apply to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $385,000 per year.

The current 2023 minimum wage is $10.10 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.05 per hour for tipped employees. The 2023 Ohio minimum wage applies to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts of more than $372,000.

The Constitutional Amendment (II-34a) passed by Ohio voters in November 2006 states Ohio’s minimum wage shall increase on January 1 each year by the rate of inflation. The state minimum wage is tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) for urban wage earners and clerical workers over the 12-month period prior to September.

For employees at smaller companies with annual gross receipts of $385,000 or less per year after Jan. 1, 2024, and for 14- and 15-year-olds, the state’s minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. For these employees, the state wage is tied to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which requires an act of Congress and the President’s signature to change.

Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum