Buncombe County announced on April 28 that it will sponsor a community blood drive on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Buncombe County Administration Building, located at 200 College St.
The event aims to encourage residents to donate blood, which is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Organizers say every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood and that lifesaving care begins with individual donations.
All donors will receive a gift card from the American Red Cross and sandwiches will be provided. Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or visiting redcrossblood.org with sponsor code Buncombe County. Walk-ins are welcome but appointments will be honored first.
In related education news, recent data show varying levels of college readiness among students in Buncombe County school districts. Of senior students taking the science portion of the ACT during the 2022-23 school year, about 28.5% were considered ready for college according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. For junior students taking the same test, approximately 30.1% met college readiness standards according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
When looking at reading scores on the ACT for seniors in Buncombe County schools during this period, about 41.1% were deemed ready for college-level work according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, while juniors reached a rate of approximately 43.2% according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Math readiness was lower; roughly one-quarter (25.6%) of seniors achieved college-ready scores in math according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, compared with about one-third (32.7%) among juniors according to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
The upcoming blood drive reflects ongoing efforts by local organizations and agencies to support public health and well-being in Buncombe County.
