Editor, Gazette-Journal:

We are writing to ask your readers to support the next Mathews County Community Blood Drive on Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Piankatank Ruritan Club, which will be sponsored by the Mathews Family YMCA.

Donors are needed! One unit of blood can save up to three lives. For donors who have time constraints, appointments are available. To schedule an appointment online, go to redcrossblood.org and click on the blue box in the upper right-hand corner (Make a Blood Donation Appointment), then enter Mathews in the "Enter Sponsor Code" box, or you may call 725-0802 to have the appointment scheduled for you.

The entire process of donating blood takes approximately one hour. Donors get to visit with some of the nicest people in our community, eat delicious homemade cookies, put their feet up for a bit and feel the satisfaction of knowing they have helped save lives. For those who are unable to donate blood, there are multiple volunteer opport...