Lapeer Area View

Memorial blood drive is July 9 at Legion post in North Branch


NORTH BRANCH — The 3rd Annual Candy Coulter Memorial Blood Drive will be held Tuesday, July 9 from noon to 5:45 p.m. at the North Branch American Legion Post 457, 4075 Huron St.

The previous two drives in 2017 and 2018 brought out large numbers of donors.

The drive is named in honor of a longtime volunteer Candy Coulter who served the American Red Cross and the Post for many years at the blood drive.

During her many years of service, Coulter led a group of dedicated phone callers who personally called hundreds of potential donors to encourage them to give blood. She was also a fixture at the front reception area greeting each donor as they arrived. She was there from beginning to end during the blood drives, which are held six times a year.

Coulter died Jan. 1, 2016.

Local restaurants and businesses, including, the North Branch Bar & Grill, Brass Lamp Villa, Bryan’s Supermarket, Washakie Golf Club and RV Resort, TJ’s Ice Cream Cabin and the Village of North Branch have donated items and gift certificates for a raffle. Additional donations are expected. All blood donors will have a chance to win the prizes.

All donors will receive a small souvenir of their donation.

“We are pleased that we can continue this memorial drive well into the future to honor the legacy of Candy,” said Jim Smith, Post commander and coordinator of the blood drive.

“We have many loyal and faithful donors, some who have given up to 200 pints of blood over the years,” Smith said. “We hope folks will continue to turn out and honor Candy by donating at this blood drive.”