Santa Rosa Community Briefs

Blood donations needed for Texas flooding

MILTON — OneBlood, the local nonprofit blood center serving the southeastern United States, is preparing to send blood to Texas and stands ready to assist until further notice.

To ensure enough blood is available locally and for Texas, OneBlood urges all eligible donors to donate blood as soon as possible. While all blood types are needed, there is an urgent call for O-negative and O-positive blood, as well as platelet and plasma donations.

The Big Red Bus will be available 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 11 at Locklin Technical Center, 5330 Berryhill Road in Milton.

Devastating floods, massive destruction and continued record-setting rainfall is preventing blood centers in Texas from being able to collect blood.  This scenario is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, OneBlood and other blood centers are working with Blood Centers of America and America’s Blood Centers to provide needed blood.

Generally healthy people age 16 or older who weigh at least 110 pounds can donate blood. Photo ID is required.

Visit oneblood.org/donate-now or call 888-936-6283 for the hours and locations of OneBlood Donor Centers and Big Red Bus drives.

Masonic lodge to present catfish dinner

MILTON — The Order of the Eastern Star is sponsoring a $10 fried fish dinner.

Visitors can eat from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Santa Rosa Masonic Lodge, 5158 Pike St. in Milton. The menu includes fish, hush puppies, coleslaw, baked beans and cheese grits. The price includes beverages and dessert. Takeout plates will be available.

Call Carolyn Kranz at 981-1935 for details.

Nationally renowned speaker to talk on overcoming obstacles

EAST MILTON — Nationally known speaker David Ring will be speaking 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at East Side Baptist Church in East Milton, 4884 Ward Basin Road.

The service will focus on how to emerge victorious rather than victimized in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

Born in 1953, Ring developed cerebral palsy due to 18 minutes of oxygen deprivation at birth.

Orphaned at the age of 14 after both parents died of cancer, he moved from family to family with nowhere to call home. He endured physical pain, humiliating public ridicule and discouragement.

After surrendering his heart and life to Jesus Christ, he learned self-respect and acceptance of his physical challenges, according to a media release.

FreedomWorks member, media critic to address Santa Rosa Republicans

NAVARRE — The Santa Rosa County Republican Executive Committee Lincoln Day Dinner will take place 4 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Creekside Southern Grill at the Club at Hidden Creek, 3070 P.G.A Blvd., Navarre.  Luke Rosiak from the Daily Caller and C.L. Bryant of FreedomWorks will serve as keynote speakers.

A VIP reception, with speakers and elected officials, starts at 4 p.m., followed by dinner and presentations from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $75 per person for non-members and $60 per person for members. VIP seats cost $100 while $125 tickets include the VIP reception and dinner.

Text 207-0494 or email pattyburke5@gmail.com for ticket purchases and further details.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Santa Rosa Community Briefs