T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA East Richland Friends Church woman’s ministry leader Kim Cain gets her blood taken by American Red Cross blood collection staff member Amy Hartline.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — East Richland Friends Church and School teamed up with the American Red Cross on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to provide blood for people in need.

East Richland Friends Church Communications Director Amy Stewart said that the church has been hosting the blood drive for more than 20 years.

“Our church is also a school, so having it on Martin Luther King Jr. Day gives us the opportunity to have this space completely and totally available for the Blood Drive team,” Stewart said.

She added that the church hosts two blood drives a year, one on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and one in July.

“It’s important to be a part of this community and help people in this manner,” Stewart said. “We want to provide a space for people to do this safely and the opportunity for people to give blood to help save lives.”

She added that for the past two decades the community that is fostered from the church and school has continued to come out and donate blood in droves and she wants to thank the community.

“I am a recipient of transfused blood, so I am certainly grateful for those who have given their blood over the years,” Stewart said.

She said that the idea for the drive to be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day was by church elder Gail Gress.

“She has done a phenomenal job of organizing and creating this,” Stewart said. “She was a nurse, and is always our poster child for this blood drive as a former nurse.”