Monday, November 1, 2010 1:16 pm

Pictured (left to right): Tim Ryerson, Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region CEO; Geneva Cotton, Outstanding Volunteer; Rosa Buttrum, Outstanding Volunteer; Carl Hirlston, Outstanding Volunteer (Woodbury, Tenn.) and Mitsi Lindsay, TVR Board Chair. Other Outstanding Volunteer Award winners include (not pictured):  Fay Hooper (McEwen, Tenn.) and Lynn Werner (Paducah, Ky.)

On Thursday, Oct. 28, the Tennessee Valley Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross honored its “Hometown Heroes” with a luncheon and awards ceremony.

Carl Hirlston, of Woodbury, Tenn., received the Outstanding Volunteer Award.  The award is given to volunteers who go above and beyond the call of duty in helping the Red Cross serve their communities.

The Tennessee Valley Region Donor Recruitment Department nominated numerous individuals, businesses and schools.  From those nominations, 24 award winners were selected.

Congratulations Carl!  Thank you for your dedication to the American Red Cross blood program.

For your convenience, you may now schedule blood donation appointments online at www.redcrossblood.org.  You may also call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Donors may subscribe to Red Cross texting by sending redcross to 42227 or registering online at redcrossblood.org.  

How to Donate Blood:

Call 1-800-RED CROSS or log on to www.redcrossblood.org for more information or to schedule a blood donation appointment. All blood types are needed to ensure the Red Cross maintains an adequate blood supply. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Donors must be in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old (16 with completed Parental Consent Form). New height and weight restrictions apply to donors younger than 19. Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.