Scientology Volunteer Minister's Pinellas County Blood Drive Saves Lives

CLEARWATER, Fla. - March 30, 2020 - PRLog -- The American Red Cross announced on Tuesday, March 17^th that it is facing a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Such cancellations have resulted in about 86,000 fewer blood donations, according to the American Red Cross.

       The US Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams called on healthy Americans to donate blood. "You can still go out and give blood. We're worried about potential blood shortages in the future. Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement," said Adams on NBC News, March 18^th.

        On Saturday the 21^st of March, the Scientology Volunteers Ministers arranged with OneBlood to have two fully equipped "Blood Buses" to assist donors on South Garden Avenue in Downtown Clearwater. Each bus adhered to the Center for Disease Control recommendations to protect all participating donors. Those waiting to donate were directed to wait six feet apart so as to maintain social distancing.

        For the last 30 years the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization has been organizing annual blood drives with non-profit organizations that facilitate blood donation services. Such examples are the Florida Blood Services and OneBlood. In 2015 the Church stepped up its efforts, with the help of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, and increased their blood drives to bimonthly support.

        "Our purpose to help stems from the motto of the Volunteer Ministers, 'Something can be done about it,'" said Ms. Glendy Goodsell, the Executive Director of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Florida. A gift of blood is a gift of life and this is one of the many ways we partner with organizations to improve the quality of life."

         Ms. Linda Leach, Account Representative of OneBlood said in response,
"Thank you for the great blood drive in downtown Clearwater! We saw 61 amazing blood donors with 51 pints collected! One pint of blood saves three lives, potentially touching 153 patients. Please acknowledge all the donators in some way as they are truly heroes!"

         The Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Florida's next blood drive is planned for May 16th.

         OneBlood is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) community asset responsible for providing safe, available and affordable blood.

ABOUT THE SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEER MINISTERS:

The Church of Scientology Volunteers Minister program is a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities. The Church provides free online training on their website volunteerministers.org (https://www.volunteerministers.org/solutions/)