Prior to last evenings, city council meeting councilmember Bill Shaklett welcomed Kathy Ferrell, Executive Director of the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross to address the council and offer the opening prayer for the evening.

Farrell shared that 16,858 Murfreesboro residents have donated blood over the past year but the need for blood donors in Middle-Tennessee is growing. Previously the area used to export the blood donated here to other areas of the country that were falling short of their needs. Now, because of the rapid and continued growth in the area, Middle Tennessee is an importer of blood.

Of course the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross does more than collect and distribute blood and in just the last year over 8000 individuals were trained in CPR and other life-saving skills, there were 665 individuals impacted by a natural disaster, and shared $160,000 in direct financial assistance to people in times of need.

With 200 Heart of Tennessee volunteers serving over 20,000 hours to accomplish the mission and provide the services of the Red Cross right here in Murfreesboro and Middle-Tennessee.