‘Wreaths Across America’ Blood Drive to Honor Fallen Veterans

The annual ‘Wreaths Across America’ fundraiser and blood drive is hosted by Sobie Meats and Ottawa North Kent Blue Star Mothers on Saturday, July 16. The event’s goal is to raise enough funds to purchase 5,200 veteran wreaths for placement in the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans cemetery.

Veteran wreaths are a symbol of honor, respect, and victory, and the special wreath ceremony will be held on December 17, 2016.

The event is a fun-filled day of activities for both children and adults which includes a live auction and raffle; BBQ food; hot-dog eating contest, and much more!

The blood drive portion of the event will be held from 10:00am – 3:00pm in the parking lot of J&H Family Stores, located at 3434 Remembrance Road in Grand Rapids, which is next door to Sobie Meats. Michigan Blood will donate $10 per blood donation to the Ottawa North Kent Blue Star Mothers fundraiser for Veterans Wreaths.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. Donors can schedule an appointment by calling 1-866-MIBlood or by visiting miblood.org. Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate, although females age 18 and under must weigh 120 pounds or more. Blood donors should bring photo ID.

Michigan Blood is the sole provider of blood and blood products for the majority of hospitals in Michigan, including Spectrum Health, Metro Health, and Mercy Health Saint Mary’s.

Donations given outside of Michigan Blood do not stay local or have direct local impact. Donate blood at Michigan Blood and help save the lives of patients in Michigan hospitals. Michigan Blood is currently in urgent need of O-Negative blood donations.