MADISON – An upcoming, local blood drive will help with the needed supplies to deal with the persistence of COV19’s infection rate and frequency of natural disasters in the United States.

The Knights of Columbus, Assembly 2420 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on Hughes Road in Madison is sponsoring its regular, bi-monthly blood drive for American Red Cross on Oct. 17.

The blood drive hours will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the American Red Cross Bloodmobile, which will be parked in the lower parking lot at St. John.

For an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org, and click “Make your appointment.” Type “35758” in the “ZIP or Sponsor Code” box. Select the St. John blood drive from the list of events, and select the time that you want.

“The need for blood in Alabama and the nation is constant, and especially so now with COVID-19 continuing to threaten us,” blood drive coordinator John Horch said. “With regard to the virus, we will be observing the national-, state- and Diocesan-suggested separation, disinfecting and cleanliness guidelines.”

“Your participation is greatly appreciated by the Red Cross and St. John’s Knights of Columbus, but most of all by those who need blood at this trying time in our nation,” Horch said. “Please take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and give the gift of life.”

Clergy at St. John includes Father Bryan Lowe, Pastor; Father Anil Thomas, Associate Pastor; and Father Phil O’Kennedy, Retired Priest in Residence.

St. John’s street address is 1057 Hughes Road in Madison. For more information, call the church office at St. John at 256-722-0130 or Horch at 256-772-3280.