The first community blood drive of the new year will be held Monday from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church on Cantova Way. The Rancho Murieta Women's Club sponsors the drives and BloodSource conducts them four times a year. Reservations can be made by contacting Linda Weatherholt, 354-8853, or Nancy Kilborn, 354-2561.

Participants in the drive will receive a free T-shirt, compliments of BloodSource. At least half of the daily blood supply at local hospitals comes from community blood drives like Rancho Murieta's. In our area, over 3.2 million people depend on BloodSource to provide an average of 700 units of blood every day to more than 40 hospitals.

If you would like to donate homemade cookies and have not signed up, bring the cookies the day of the drive. Cookies are always greatly appreciated by donors and workers, and any leftovers are taken to Fire Station 59.

The last drive of 2009 was held in October. Of the 67 people who registered, 56 were able to give blood, including three new donors.