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Maine Lakes Chamber welcomes American Red Cross; local blood drive set for June 2 in Bridgton
Summary
At a ribbon-cutting in Bridgton, the Maine Lakes Chamber announced a partnership with the American Red Cross. Red Cross leaders described ongoing blood-collection work, disaster-response activities, a free smoke-alarm program and an upcoming June 2 blood drive at the Alliance Church.
The Maine Lakes Chamber formally welcomed the American Red Cross during a ribbon-cutting in Bridgton, where Red Cross officials outlined local blood drives, disaster-response work and a call for volunteers.
Lori Allen, president of the Maine Lakes Chamber, introduced the Red Cross partnership and said the collaboration will help bring services to the local community. "We are very excited that the American Red Cross [is] here in our community," she said.
Steve Thomas, executive director of the Red Cross in Southern Maine, said the organization plays multiple roles locally and nationally. "We collect 40% of the nation's blood supply," Thomas said, emphasizing the importance of volunteer donors. He noted recent successful Bridgton drives and announced a larger blood drive scheduled for June 2 at the Alliance Church to accommodate more donors.
Thomas also described the Red Cross's disaster-response work, saying home fires are the most common and deadliest disaster the organization responds to. He said the Red Cross responds to about 60,000 home-fire events nationally and roughly 250 in Maine each year. He urged residents to volunteer for local disaster-action teams and described volunteer roles ranging from donor support at blood drives to deploying for large-scale shelters and mass-care operations.
The Red Cross also offered a free smoke-alarm installation program, with no income or age eligibility requirements. Thomas said working smoke alarms can substantially reduce the risk of injury or death in home fires and encouraged residents to request installations.
Thomas listed local Red Cross contacts present at the event — Al (state recruiter), Jim Linscott (local disaster responder) and Ralph (community volunteer leader) — and invited attendees to speak with them after the ceremony. The Chamber also announced community items including coverage by Lake Region TV and its gala and charity auction on May 14 at Highland Lake Resort, with proceeds supporting scholarships for Fryeburg Academy and Lake Region High School.
The event concluded with a ribbon cutting and a reception with food and beverages. Attendees were invited to take informational flyers and speak with Red Cross volunteers about donating blood, disaster response and the smoke-alarm program.
