Bloomington teen organizing July 4 blood drive

BLOOMINGTON — Before you grill out and watch the fireworks on Independence Day, you may want to extend an arm.

American Red Cross, with its new Empower Our Youth Program, is sponsoring a blood drive 8 to 11 a.m. Monday at Fairview Park in Normal, where families congregate on the Fourth of July. A Red Cross bloodmobile will be in the park’s west lot.

The drive is the brainchild of Alizarin Salmi, 17, of Bloomington, who is part of the Red Cross youth program and is the drive coordinator.

“In my 13 years with the Red Cross, we’ve never had a drive on the Fourth of July,” said Steve Stoewer, director of blood services for the Bloomington-based Red Cross of the Heartland. “But this is an opportunity to work with young people … and is an indication of the need right now.”

“We are still able to supply blood to our hospital partners but we are at a critically low level,” said Theresa Kuhlmann, spokeswoman for the Peoria-based Red Cross Heart of America Region. While all blood types are needed, supplies of O negative, B negative and A negative are in high demand, she said.

The supply is typical for June 27 through July 6 when donations decrease because of vacations and the holiday, Stoewer said. Meanwhile, demand increases because of trauma from traffic crashes.

High school and college blood drives account for 20 percent of blood donations in the region, but there are no school drives during summer. So Red Cross started the youth program to encourage young leaders to recruit their friends to join them as blood donors, beginning this summer when supplies are down, Stoewer said.

“Giving blood is a patriotic way to give back to the community and the country,” said Salmi, an incoming senior at Central Catholic High School.

Stoewer said students from Normal Community West and University high schools are coordinating drives later this month.

People who want to make an appointment for any Red Cross drive may call 800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org . People who live in the Central Illinois Community Blood Center region — which includes parts of Logan and Tazewell counties — may call 866-GIVEBLD or visit www.cicbc.org .

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Youth Minister at Saint Cecilia Catholic Community in Houston, TX ...

Job Description

Saint Cecilia is located in West Houston and is a large parish in a beautiful area of the city. Our youth ministry program has 450 registered participants in our high school program and 250 in the Junior High program. Our staff includes 2 full-time youth ministers and a part time secretarial assistant. We also maintain an incredible and talented Core Team of adult individuals and an incredible group of peer ministers who participate in our “Militia Mariae” group. Militia Mariae is based on service, leadership and discipleship and have a spirituality founded in Marian Consecration. I feel that the Holy Spirit has blessed this program in so many ways- but I know there is so much more He wants to do! Some of the areas that I am really looking for help in growth include growing our Junior High Ministry, improving Full Active Conscience Participation at Mass and outreach to the male population of our teens. I am hoping to find an individual who has new ideas and experience in these areas! About our Parish / School / Organization

Our parish is home to 4500 families in the West Houston area. About a third of our population is spanish speaking and ministered to by our dynamic Hispanic Ministry and our 3 spanish speaking preists. Saint Cecilia also supports a day school that ministers to pre-k 3 through 8th grade. I have been at Saint Cecilia for 6 1/2 years and I am excited to welcome a new hire to help me continue to grow our program. My experience at Saint Cecilia has been extremley blessed, especcially in the area of community and fellowship. The people of St. Cecilia are incredibly generous in thier time, talent and treasure and especcially in their affection. Our pastor couldn't be more supportive of the program.

E-mail resumes to Katie Hartfiel at khartfiel@saintcecilia.org or fax to Katie's attention at 713-465-1305. Call Katie at 713-465-3414 with any questions!

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The Catholic Youth Prayer Book

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The Catholic high school is our Catholic youth program, Catholic high school building program, 1957-1958

Leadership for Catholic Youth Ministry, A Comprehensive Resource