Some of our local parishes have been providing opportunities for the faithful to provide literal gifts from the heart to help those in need: the gift of their blood.

Did you know that every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood? Patients of all ages need blood donations – accident and burn victims, patients undergoing heart surgery or organ transplants, and those battling cancers can receive lifesaving medical care thanks to blood donors.

Helping to support the ongoing and vital need for blood, St Mary Mother of God in Sylva and the St. Therese Parish’s Knights of Columbus in Mooresville hosted Blood Drives this year to support the American Red Cross.

More than 60 individuals participated in the blood drives, with a total of 65 pints collected – potentially saving 260 lives!

These blood drives are one way our parishes have participated in “50 Acts of Charity,” a diocesan-wide initiative to manifest the love of God to others through charitable acts in celebration of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary.

Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more about participating in or hosting a blood drive to help save lives in our community.

Bishop Peter Jugis has invited our entire diocese to participate in the “50 Acts of Charities” initiative. Whether you are from our parishes, ministries or schools, we hope you will embrace the opportunity to participate in greater outreach, service, and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need by completing one or more Acts of Charity by the end of 2022.

— Virginia Garramone. Photos provided by Susan Szarek from St. Mary Mother of God Parish

Have you already done an Act of Charity this year? Tell us about it!

You can submit information about your “Act of Charity” to Catholic Charities at info@ccdoc.org to receive a personal thank you letter from Bishop Jugis and recognition on our 50th Anniversary Tracker: http://faithmorepreciousthangold.com/.