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Wednesday, October 6, 2021 Below is a list of WHERE to pick up a FREE copy of the print edition of the News-Advertiser.
Red Cross experiencing ‘emergency shortage’
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Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley gives a blood donation inside the Red Cross donor van set up at the InRoads Credit Union parking lot in St. Helens Sept. 28.
Originally published in The Chief Vol. 130 October 1, 2021 JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood and platelet shortage and must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month for the blood supply to recover and meet hospital and patient needs. Donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors are urged to make an appointment to give now and in the weeks ahead to overcome the current shortage, according to a release from the American Red Cross. Blood donor turnout has reached the lowest levels of the year as many delayed giving amid a return to the workplace and in-person learning, as well as a recent
Blood donor turnout has reached the lowest levels of the year as many delayed giving amid a return to the workplace and in-person learning, as well as a recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the country due to the delta variant.
Blood drive safety
surge in COVID-19 cases across the country due to the Delta variant. As cases spiked in August, blood donor participation decreased about 10%, but blood product distributions to hospitals have remained strong, significantly outpacing blood donations in recent weeks. Historically low inventory levels The national Red Cross blood inventory is the lowest it’s been at this time of year since 2015, with less than a day’s supply of certain blood types in recent weeks, the release states. The supply of types O positive and O negative blood, the most needed blood types by hospitals, dropped to less than a half-day supply at times over the last month − well below the ideal fiveday supply. “Fall is typically a time when the blood supply rebounds as donors are more available to give than
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The American Red Cross uses this large converted bus as its mobile donor van.
during the busy summer months, but this year has presented a unique and serious challenge,” Red Cross Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pampee Young said. “While it’s clear the pandemic continues to weigh heavily on our minds, the Red Cross asks the public to remember donating blood and platelets is essential to the many patients that rely on lifesaving transfusions every day.”
Pampee encourages donors not to wait. People across the country depend on the generosity of blood donors, she said, asking that anyone eligible should make an appointment to give blood or platelets as soon as possible by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-7332767).
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. InRoads Random Act of Kindness connection As part of its monthly Random Acts of Kindness, InRoads Credit Union hosted the Red Cross bloodmobile on Sept. 28, at its St. Helens administration building. Thirty participants, including InRoads employees and their family members, gave blood during the workday.
SNAP: Increases to continue permanently Originally published in The Chief Vol. 130 October 1, 2021 STAFF REPORT chiefnews@countrymedia.net
Columbia County resident and other Oregonians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see a permanent average increase of about $36 per month, per person to their regular SNAP benefits. The permanent increase took effect Oct. 1, and is the result of federal changes to the Thrifty Food Plan. In addition, most SNAP recipients in Oregon will continue to receive additional emergency SNAP benefits in October. The federal government has approved emergency
allotments every month since March 2020. This gives SNAP recipients additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October, approximately 408,000 SNAP households will receive approximately $64 million in extra food benefits in addition to their regular SNAP benefits. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to increase regular SNAP benefits and to provide additional emergency benefits to most SNAP households in Oregon,” Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Self-Sufficiency Program Director Dan Haun said. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling to meet their basic needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we encourage them to contact our partners at 211
About-SNAP.aspx. Questions about your SNAP benefits should be directed to the ONE Customer Service Center at 1-800-6999075. If you are a SNAP household and your income or the number of people in your household has changed, it could impact your benefits. It is important to make sure ODHS has the most up-todate information. You can report any changes to your income or household in many ways: and the Oregon Food Bank for support during this difficult time.” Emergency food benefits will be available on Oct. 12 for current SNAP households. New SNAP households will receive the emergency allotments Oct. 29 or Nov. 2.
SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these benefits as they will be issued directly on their EBT cards. More information about emergency allotments is available at https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ASSISTANCE/ FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/
• Online at: ONE.Oregon. gov • By mail at: ONE Customer Service Center, PO Box 14015, Salem, OR 97309 • By fax at: 503-378-5628 • By phone at: 1-800-6999075 or TTY 711
Resources to help meet basic needs Find a food pantry: foodfinder.oregonfoodbank. org Learn about government programs and community resources for older adults and people with disabilities: Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or www.adrcoforegon.org. Dial 2-1-1, or text your zip code to 898-211, www.211info.org Oregon Department of Human Services Resources For local resources in your area, such as food or shelter, please call 2-1-1 or reach out to the state’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-855-ORE-ADRC or 1-855-673-2372.
LOCAL NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. Catch up on whats going on in Columbia County where ever you are. thechronicleonline.com and thechiefnews.com
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