The Volunteer Transportation Center encourages you to sign up for an American Red Cross Blood Drive slated for Monday, June 9, at the Pamelia Town Office Building at 25859 State Route 37, Watertown N.Y. 13601. The drive will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Appointments may be made online at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=VTC.

Those who donate will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card by email, while supplies last. In addition, donors will automatically be entered for a chance to win a $7,000 gift card. Two winners will be drawn.

The goal is to have 24 units collected to help those in need and, this year, the added benefit is the VTC will receive $10 for each unit collected!

ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization dedicated to preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies. Its mission is rooted in compassion and guided by the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement, including impartiality, neutrality, and voluntary service. Through a wide range of programs, the organization provides disaster relief, health and safety training, support for military families, and vital community services across the United States.

One of the core functions of the American Red Cross is its blood collection and distribution program. The organization is one of the largest suppliers of blood and blood products in the country, collecting donations at blood drives and donation centers nationwide. These donations help treat patients undergoing surgery, battling cancer, managing chronic illnesses, or recovering from traumatic injuries. The Red Cross ensures the safety and availability of the blood supply through rigorous testing, tracking, and quality control procedures.

To meet daily demand, the Red Cross must collect thousands of blood donations every day. It relies heavily on volunteer donors and community partners to host drives and encourage participation. The organization emphasizes that one donation can save multiple lives and regularly campaigns to raise awareness about the ongoing need for all blood types—especially rare ones. In times of crisis, such as natural disasters or public health emergencies, the Red Cross plays a critical role in maintaining a stable and responsive blood supply system across the country.

For more information about the American Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org.

 

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER TRANSPORTATION CENTER
The Volunteer Transportation Center, Inc. (VTC), established in 1991, drives thousands of miles each year assisting community members in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties and beyond. Over the last 30 years, this essential non-profit organization has provided rides to health care appointments, food sources and other critical needs destinations for residents.
In 2024, volunteer drivers provided 25,478 charitable trips over 876,509 miles in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties. Of those miles, 318,320 helped those in Jefferson County, 112,852 in Lewis County, and 445,337 in St. Lawrence County. That equated to approximately $438,255 in mileage reimbursement for our volunteers. That’s why the community’s help is so important.

The staff, boards of directors and volunteer drivers look forward to a time when transportation to community activities and services is accessible to all North Country residents regardless of economic or specialized needs. But for now the mission drives on — striving to provide transportation to health, wellness and critical needs destinations utilizing volunteers and mobility management for anyone who has barriers to transportation.

For more information about how you can help the Volunteer Transportation Center, about its upcoming events, or to become a volunteer driver, contact the agency in Jefferson and Lewis Counties at 315-788-0422, in St. Lawrence County at 315-714-2034, or Western New York at 585-250-5030. Volunteers drive their own cars, set their own hours and receive mileage reimbursement but, more importantly, make a difference in the community. To learn more, visit www.volunteertransportationcenter.org.