The Calvary Christian Union Church in Excelsior Springs partners with the American Red Cross foundation to host community blood drives every eight to nine weeks to help those in need. “We have hosted a blood drive every chance we could,” said Calvary Church member Becky Johnston. “The next drive will be October 20.” She explained the blood drive is a way to help people in need and residents don’t realize the need for blood and blood donors is constant. “Anyone can donate whole blood every eight weeks and the American Red Cross encourages people with type O blood to donate because it’s a universal blood type,” she said. Other types of donations are also offered through the American Red Cross community blood drive events, including power red, platelet and plasma donations. Power red donations consist of giving a concentrated dose of red cells used for emergency transfusions during birth and for trauma patients, newborns, sickle cell anemia patients or anyone suffering blood loss. …