{Editor’s Note: Officials called off the original blood drive due to flooding in Moore County. Organizers rescheduled the event for Friday, April 30. They’ve transferred all scheduled appointments, If you need to cancel, contact Lisa Moorehead at 931-759-4231 after April 17. She is currently acting as a chaperone on the MCHS senior trip.}

MOORE COUNTY — March is Red Cross Month and the students, faculty, and staff at Moore County High School plan to celebrate by hosting a blood drive in honor of one of their own, Health Science Coordinator Belinda Smith.

Smith tested positive for COVID-19 in mid-December and hers was not a mild case. Doctors admitted her to Fayetteville Medical Center just days before Christmas. When she didn’t improve, the staff transferred Smith to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville where she remained for 48 days. Doctors released Belinda on February 8, but she continues to experience the long haul effects of COVID. She remains on oxygen and tires easily — keeping her from returning to classroom.

As the Health Sciences Coordinator, Belinda usually works with the American Red Cross to coordinate three blood drives at the high school each year, so it’s only fitting that the last one of the year would be in her honor.

“She’s such a huge influence on our health science pathway at the high school,” says MCHS Librarian Lisa Moorehead, who took over as Red Cross liaison in Smith’s absence.

Moorehead says that Belinda is responsible for guiding hundreds of Moore County students into health careers after graduation. She says Belinda also sets an example for students by volunteering her time to deliver meals to shut-ins and serving on several community boards.

The blood drive will take place on Friday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MCHS Gym. Moorehead says they chose the gym in order to accommodate a larger number of donations. She says students hope to sign up at least 72 donors for that day. The Red Cross will also test for COVID antibodies during the donation.

Sign up is super easy. You can sign up immediately at the Red Cross website by clicking here. Or if you regularly give blood, you can enter sponsor code MCHS019 in the American Red Cross app. You can also contact Lisa Moorehead at the high school to schedule at appointment at 931-759-4231 or emailing her at [email protected]. •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently owned and operated newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}