Think outside the box,
make holiday blood donation
The holidays are about memories, reliving old ones and making new.
Think back to your childhood. Can you recall receiving what you thought was the perfect gift? You may still have it or it might be long gone. Although itís a happy memory, was it the perfect gift?
Ask a cancer survivor or a trauma victim to describe the perfect gift, and many would tell you the perfect gift doesnít come in a box. Itís a life-saving blood donation.
Blood is often needed for traumas, heart surgeries, joint-replacement surgeries, organ transplants, premature babies, leukemia, cancer treatments and much more. Since there is no substitute for human blood, these patients rely on volunteer blood donors like you to provide the blood products they need to survive.
When you donate blood, you give the perfect gift ó another hug, another laugh, another smile, another chance ó to someone in need of blood.
Think outside the box this holiday season. The perfect gift is at your nearest American Red Cross blood drive or blood donation center. And unlike the latest fashion trend, video game or golf club, the perfect gift costs nothing but an hour of your time.
Give the perfect gift and help a family member, friend or someone youíve never met unwrap a lifetime of memories.
ó Tiffany N. Jacobs
Salisbury
Jacobs is the donor recruitment representatives for the American Red Cross, Carolinas Blood Services Region.
A gift of music and song
This past week, I was honored to participate as the organist for the 24th annual Service of Lessons and Carols which took place in the chapel of Catawba College.
This beautiful gift to the greater Salisbury community was highlighted by the exquisite sound of the Catawba Singers and the Catawba Chamber Singers, the Catawba Community Music Childrenís Choir and the Catawba Wind Ensemble. The opportunity to accompany all of the collegeís very talented students was a complete joy, particularly my collaboration with the newly-appointed director of choral music, Justin Hazelgrove.
I wholeheartedly commend his work and hope that the community will join me in welcoming him as he continues the fine tradition of beautiful singing at Catawba College.
ó Matthew Michael Brown
Salisbury
Brown is the director of music at First United Methodist Church.