Coronavirus: Want to donate blood? Here are blood drives going on in the Treasure Valley
There’s always a need for blood donations, but now is an especially crucial time to give. With the future unclear as the coronavirus pandemic continues around the country, the American Red Cross is encouraging those who can donate blood to do so.
Between May 1-15, there are numerous blood and platelets drives taking place in the Treasure Valley.
Check out the list below for upcoming opportunities to give. More dates and times are also available at The Red Cross’ Boise Donation Center, located at 5380 Franklin Road. All appointments can be made in advance by going to RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor app on your smartphone, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.
Ada County
Boise
May 1: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Boise Saves Lives, 906 W. Main St.
May 12: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Deathproof Coffee House, 10481 W. Fairview Ave.
Meridian
May 13: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. - The Village at Meridian, 3693 E. Longwing Lane, #110
Elmore County
Glenns Ferry
May 12: 1 - 6 p.m. - Veteran’s Hall, 132 E. 5th Street, VFW Hall
Gem County
Emmett
May 1: noon - 5 p.m., Valor Hospital, 1202 E. Locust St.
Valley Regional Transit resumes service Monday
Three ValleyRide bus routes in Boise and Garden City that suspended service on March 27 will resume operations Monday, May 4, Valley Regional Transit has announced.
The routes that will resume service are 11 Garden City, 16 VA/Hyde Park and 17 Warm Springs. With this resumption of service, all ValleyRide bus routes in Boise and Garden City will be in operation.
Main Street Station, the Happy Day Transit Center in Caldwell and the VRT administrative offices in Meridian will remain closed to the public.
The transit service is asking that once inside the bus, passengers are being asked to sit as far away from other passengers as possible. If there are too many people on a bus to ensure adequate social distancing, additional buses can be brought into service. Passengers are also being asked to wear face coverings when riding ValleyRide buses or ACCESS paratransit vehicles.
Treefort creates coronavirus art fund
The Treefort Music Fest has announced its new COVID Cultural Commissioning Fund, an opportunity for local artists to receive a $1,000 commission to create something that explores or documents someone’s personal experience with the coronavirus pandemic.
Applications are open for the award, and the deadline is just before midnight on Friday, May 8, according to Treefort’s website.
The commission is a partnership among Treefort, The Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, and the Boise City Department of Arts & History.
“During these uncertain times, it is important for our creative community to document their experiences for future generations and to provide space for the healing that comes from self-reflection,” said John Michael Schert, executive producer of Treefort Music Fest, in a news release.
To apply for the award, you must be 18 or older and live in Ada, Canyon, Boise, Gem or Owyhee counties. You must also “be able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to their work, careers, and a public audience,” according to the news release.
A to-be-determined number of people will be awarded $1,000 each. A panel of local community members and national art experts will review applications and announce the winners in mid-May.
New cases reported Wednesday
Idaho’s coronavirus case count grew by 21 on Wednesday, consisting of newly reported cases in Ada, Canyon, Jerome and Payette counties, among others.
As of Wednesday evening, the state has reported 1,833 cases of the coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 respiratory disease. Of those cases, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported that 1,121 people are “presumed recovered.”
IDHW also reported Wednesday that 28,693 coronavirus tests have been done statewide, with around 6.4% of those tested being positive for the coronavirus.
Zero coronavirus-related deaths were reported Wednesday. Sixty people in Idaho have died from the virus.
Cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in 33 of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 631, Adams 3, Bannock 7, Bingham 4, Blaine 488, Bonner 4, Bonneville 17, Camas 1, Canyon 234, Caribou 1, Cassia 12, Custer 2, Elmore 27, Fremont 2, Gem 10, Gooding 9, Idaho 3, Jefferson 4, Jerome 41, Kootenai 61, Latah 5, Lemhi 1, Lincoln 24, Madison 6, Minidoka 8, Nez Perce 51, Owyhee 8, Payette 14, Power 2, Teton 8, Twin Falls 142, Valley 2 and Washington 1.
Idaho has community spread in 17 counties: Ada, Bannock, Bingham, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Owyhee, Madison, Payette, Teton and Twin Falls.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 11:03 AM.
