Ready Fest, blood drive coming to Whitley Central Intermediate School Monday (July 29)

Local residents will have the chance to donate blood and possibly pick up some free school supplies during a pair of events taking place at Whitley Central Intermediate School Monday.

The blood drive will only take place that morning, while the 2024 Whitley County School District Ready Fest will take place at Whitley Central Intermediate School from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The ready fest will feature DIAL-4 screenings for preschool students, vision and hearing screenings, and speech/language screenings.

In addition, several groups will also be there to hand out information and possibly some goodies, including: McKinney-Vento, Save the Children, Early Steps to Success, First Steps Early Intervention Agency, Kindergarten Readiness Play and Learn Group, Whitley County Health Department, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension/4-H, Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency, Cumberland River Behavioral Health, AHEC (Area Health Education Center), Whitley County Public Library, and RECC Green Initiative.

There will also be hair cuts for children, and your choice of a free lunch of pizza or a hot dog, which will be provided by the Whitley County School Nutrition Summer Feeding Program. There will be one gift bag handed out per household, which will include health and beauty aids.

In addition, there will be opportunities for GED enrollment/community education enrollment.

The event is sponsored by the Whitley County School District, Whitley County Family Resource/Youth Service Centers and Save the Children.

There will also be registration for Whitley County’s preschool program and Bell Whitley Head Start that day. Parents or guardians should bring proof of birth and proof of income when registering.

KBC Blood Drive

The Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) Bloodmobile will be at Whitley County Intermediate School on Monday from 9 a.m. – noon. The school is located at 2940 N. US25W, Williamsburg.

While supplies last, all donors at this drive will receive a $15 Walmart gift card as a thank you for boosting the summer blood supply.

KBC officials warn that blood donations tend to decrease over the summer while summer activities often lead to an increase in accidents and traumas and a spike in blood transfusions.

Blood collected at this drive will save the lives of patients in Kentucky, who require products for surgeries, diseases like cancer, traumas, organ transplants, premature births and more.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule a donation, visit kybloodcenter.org or call (800) 775-2522.

KBC is the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky, and has been saving local lives since 1968. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and the Tri-County area (Corbin).