Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University, in partnership with the American Red Cross, will be participating in the fall blood challenge to see which school can donate the most blood.

The two-week long event is set to kick off at noon Monday in the Emmons Hall lobby and will run through Oct. 20.

During the spring 2011 challenge, which ran from Jan. 18 to Jan. 28, CMU donated 223 units of blood, falling short of the 387 units donated by WMU.

Despite WMU coming out on top, the schools worked collectively to give as much blood and save as many lives as possible.

Several students said they felt adding the element of rivalry is a great way to get people motivated about donating blood.

“Any time there’s a competition-based event, especially with Western, I think students will participate,” said Kalamazoo senior Michael Babineaux.

Babineaux said he feels the blood drive will give CMU a chance to redeem itself not only from past blood drives, but from defeats in sports as well.

Jet’s Pizza, 2308 S. Mission St., will provide free pizza to all donors. Participants will also have a chance to win gift cards from Meijer, free food from Subway and other prizes.

“Donating blood is about saving lives and I think everyone gets that message, but it’s great to have food and prizes as the organization’s (Red Cross) way of thanking people for coming out,” said Grosse Point senior Jessica Montgomery.

She said people will be more willing to donate if they feel like they are getting something out of it.

Anyone wishing to donate blood must bring their Red Cross donor card or another form of identification when going to donate.

To make an appointment or find out more about the drive’s locations and times, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

With 2.6 million dropping into poverty in just the last year, Mount Pleasant’s community has also been affected.

Mark Stevens, Isabella County director of the Department of Human Services, said the poverty rate shows an increase since the last census in 2000.

Compared to the 16.1 percent (per U.S. Census figures) in Michigan, Mount Pleasant sits high with 26.7 percent living in poverty.

“The poverty rate is high in Mount Pleasant, so of course it is an issue,” he said. “Poor people usually try to not bring attention to themselves, so it is easy for the public not to notice.”

Isabella’s DHS offers food assistance, Medicaid, day care subsidy, cash assistance and state emergency relief to needy families, he said.

The Federal Government sets the figure for those considered living in poverty, Stevens said, and it varies by year and family size.

Isabella County Soup Kitchen’s administrative assistant Linda Harris said she is shocked by how many homeless people are living in the area.

“We see people come in who slept overnight in their cars or sleep in parks and many who are staying with friends,” Harris said. “We are hearing a lot of sad stories.”

She said the kitchen had to increase food quantities to feed the dramatic increase in people coming in.

“In spring 2011 and all through the summer, there has been an increase from about 50 to 60 people, to now about 100 people daily,” she said.

The Isabella County Soup Kitchen does not ask for any identification or money from the people they serve breakfast and a hot lunch to from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., seven days a week. Harris said she personally feels the pain of the needy.

“I haven’t been able to find full-time work myself since 2006, so I feel for what they are going through,” she said. “All walks of life are now experiencing change in their economic situation.”

The Central Michigan American Red Cross, 215 E. Broadway St., also has seen an increase in those they serve, said Irene Little, emergency services program manager.

“In July alone, we helped 407 families,” she said.

That’s compared to 302 families they served from January to June in 2011.

Little said the American Red Cross is a non-income based unit and does not discriminate, but rather serves food on an emergency basis.

“We understand you need it now,” she said. “We provide enough food to last three to five days depending on the size of the family.”

Lend a helping hand

Members of the Mount Pleasant community can help those living in poverty by contributing to both organizations.

“The Isabella County Soup Kitchen accepts donations from peoples’ dinner leftovers, especially after graduations or other big parties, and donations from home gardens,” Harris said.

They also host events open to the public for donating, such as a soup and bread dinner on Nov. 11.

Little encourages people to participate in the Michigan Harvest Gathering can food drive now happening throughout Mount Pleasant.

She said food is picked up directly from the Central Michigan Community Hospital drop boxes and then given to food banks to serve families in the community.

“People’s efforts are a great way to give back to the community,” Little said. “A bag full of groceries can help feed up to 10 people.”

The campaign, coordinated by the Food Bank Council of Michigan, allows people to donate non-perishable food items at local Secretary of State branch offices, Secretary of State Spokesman Fred Woodham said.

The items go to regional food banks and help benefit families in need.

“Nearly one in 10 Michigan residents, with more than one-third being children, are at risk of hunger,” Woodham said.

The Central Michigan American Red Cross, 215 E. Broadway St., is in need of a boost of food donations after a slow summer, said Irene Little, emergency services program manager.

“During the summer, we receive our lowest amount of donations,” she said. “We’ll take everything and anything right now.”

She said the American Red Cross fed 407 families in July 2011 in Isabella County.

To help fuel the food drive, the Central Michigan Community Hospital is also participating.

Marketing and Communications Director Nicole Sanders said several donation boxes will be located around the community until Oct.14.

Donation boxes are located at Central Michigan Community Hospital, the Central Michigan Health Park-Wellness Central Fitness, in Shepherd at the office of Sally Beeson, FNP-BC, and in Clare at the family practice of Joseph Hough, MD.

Sanders said all food and non-food items gathered at CMCH will stay in central Michigan to benefit families struggling in the community.

“The more people we can help, the better,” Sanders said.

Woodham said donators should check the packages to ensure the food is not past the expiration date. People should also avoid glass containers because they may break during transit.

Along with food items, other products such as baby food or formula, diapers, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes are needed.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson sent out a press release encouraging all Michigan residents to donate and help neighbors in need.

“Since the start, we have been able to provide more than 15 million meals to Michigan residents,” she said in the release. “Our mission is far from over, we need to continue to fight hard against hunger and keep Michigan families nourished.”

The other half is comprised of “community members, who generally live within 15 to 20 miles of our location,” said Jason Chronowski, BioLife regional marketing representative, in an email.

“BioLife centers attract a wide mix of individuals: blue and white collar workers, stay-at-home parents, professionals and individuals in the military — people from all walks of life,” Chronowski said.

The major attraction of the plasma donation center, located at 4279 E. Blue Grass Road, is its reimbursement to donors. Eligible visitors are paid each time they donate, which can be up to twice in a seven-day period, with at least one full day between donations.

However, this reimbursement program restricts BioLife in how the collected plasma can be donated.

Monica Stoneking, communications manager for the American Red Cross Great Lakes Region, said paid plasma donations cannot be transfused into patients.

“We depend on volunteer blood donors,” Stoneking said.

Many plasma donors rely on the compensation for donating, so it is not uncommon to exclude information about recent tattoos, piercings, infections and other factors that could keep them from donating, Stoneking said.

Volunteer blood donors do not have the monetary incentive to donate, so they have no reason to fabricate their health situation in order to donate blood.

Stoneking said the Red Cross, Michigan Blood and other organizations rely on the research BioLife and other plasma donation services conduct with the plasma they collect.

“The plasma that is collected at BioLife centers is manufactured into a wide variety of life-saving products that benefit thousands of people every day,” Chronowski said in an email. “Plasma is used in the treatment of serious disorders such as hemophilia and immune system deficiencies, and to make products used to help treat and prevent diseases.”

After beginning as a mere hot dog stand, the third annual Downtown for a Pint concert was a success, which benefited the American Red Cross.

LeRoy junior Wayne Blanchard developed and coordinated the event. He was given the challenge by his co-ed professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, to put on a service event to benefit charity.

“By the end of the brainstorm session we were thinking, ‘so why are we having this hot dog stand?,” Blanchard said. “‘Why aren’t we just having bands?’”

This year’s event featured four artists. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. of Detroit headlined the concert. Elliot Street Lunatic of East Lansing, The Satin Peaches of Detroit and Jetpack On! of Mount Pleasant all performed short sets throughout the night.

Originally scheduled to be held at the corner of Main Street and Broadway Street in downtown Mount Pleasant, the concert was moved to inside Rubble’s Bar, 112 W. Michigan St.

Cheboygan senior Crystal Korn said though the move was planned last minute, it did have its positive aspects.

“The inside (setting) is giving it more of a close feel to the bands and the people around you,” she said. “And now since it’s in a bar, people can drink and listen to music at the same time.”

Mount Pleasant sophomore Amanda Leksche said it was the first time she attended Downtown for a Pint and she came to see The Satin Peaches play.

“I heard one of their songs on the radio and I started listening to them and I really like their music,” she said.

The Satin Peaches have performed at every year of the event.

“We had so much fun the last two years, we wouldn’t miss it,” said George Morris, guitarist and vocalist for the band.

Morris said The Satin Peaches played in the first Downtown for a Pint after they were approached by Central Michigan University alum Justin Rydzewski, who was working with Blanchard.

Rydzewski was looking to put on a benefit concert and asked Morris if his band would perform.

The Satin Peaches agreed, and the event was put together three weeks later.

In addition to his love of performing, Morris also supports the cause.

“I can’t say anything bad about the Red Cross,” he said.

The Mount Pleasant band will be performing at Downtown for a Pint III, 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at the corner of Main Street and Broadway Street in downtown Mount Pleasant.

Jetpack On! is one of five bands performing at the benefit concert. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. of Detroit will be headlining. Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers of Mount Pleasant, Elliot Street Lunatic of East Lansing and The Satin Peaches of Detroit will all be playing as well.

Ryan Hoger, guitarist and vocalist of Jetpack On!, said it was his goal to play at Downtown for a Pint before Jetpack On! even existed.

“Before I even went to Central… I went to a Downtown for a Pint and I remember saying ‘Damn- I really want to play that’,” the Commerce junior said. “We get to close kind of at the same place that we started.”

LeRoy junior Wayne Blanchard worked as this year’s event coordinator for the event. Blanchard is the chapter president of Central Michigan University’s co-ed business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi–which has sponsored the concert since it first began.

Blanchard said this years concert will be similar to last years.

Five bands will perform this year as opposed to the six last year and the four that performed in 2009.

“We thought it would be best to go in between and do five bands,” Blanchard said. “(We also) considered a venue change. At the end of the day we ended up going with the same venue, so it’s in the middle of Main Street.”

Cheboygan senior Crystal Korn, director of operations, said 10 bands contacted her this year requesting to play.

“I think it’s an excellent line up this year and I’m really excited to hear all the bands play,” she said.

Many local businesses have sponsored the event so it could remain free for students.

Last year, about $2,200 was raised for the American Red Cross.

Korn isn’t sure how fundraising will fare this year.

“A lot of the businesses have been slowed down economically, so we aren’t getting the same kind of donations that we used to,” she said.

Despite the financial outcome, the money raised will still go to the American Red Cross.

Blanchard said half of the money raised will be sent to Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Japan, and the other half will stay at the local American Red Cross unit.

“Local business owners like to know their money is staying locally,” Blanchard said. “Half stays here, and at the same time, we can still be able to get into the humanitarian side of things and try to help the major disaster going on on the other side of the world.”

Korn said the point of Downtown for a Pint is to promote not only the American Red Cross, but also the downtown businesses of Mount Pleasant.

Over 10 local stores and businesses have donated to make Downtown for a Pint a reality.

Hoger said he was happy to support the American Red Cross.

“I’d say saving lives is a pretty important cause,” he said. If I was in need of a blood transfusion… I would hope that people would support.”

Carter and over 170 other volunteers ran and biked in the second annual Out for Blood 5K/Duathlon hosted by Eta Sigma Gamma, the health education fraternity.

Participants paid $15 to run a five kilometer course which circled Central Michigan University’s campus, or $25 to run the 5K and bike along a 20 kilometer course that reached as far as Blanchard road. Both courses started and ended at the Bovee University Center.

The money raised from the event will be donated to the American Red Cross.

Carter, for the second year in a row, completed the entire duration of the bike course on a unicycle, but vows that the hardest part about riding a unicycle for him is stopping.

“I did it last year and I really enjoyed it,” Carter said. “Right after you get off, you’ll start cramping up though.”

Troy senior Lauren Johnson, the president of Eta Sigma Gamma, was pleased to see that the weather held up for the participants.

“It ended up actually being great racing weather,” Johnson said. “It turned out to be much better than predicted.”

The completion times were recorded and prizes were given to individuals with the fastest times in their age group, though most didn’t treat the event like a competition.

Heath sciences faculty member Irene O’Boyle, advisor for Eta Sigma Gamma, helped to organize the event, but also had two of her grandsons participating in their first 5K run.

“It’s a family-friendly event for a good cause,” O’Boyle said. “I thought it went very well.”

Mount Pleasant resident Mike Hetzman set his personal goal to finish the duathlon in less than 90 minutes. Most participants took around an hour and a half to finish the duathlon, and just over a half hour for the five kilometer run.

“I dragged my 40 year old 10-speed out of the garage just for today,” Hetzman joked.

From Jan. 18 to Jan. 28, the two universities were able to donate 610 units of blood after completing successful blood drives. Lindsey Mortier, American Red Cross donor recruitment representative, said she is very pleased with the results of the blood drive.

“Our main goal was to come together and help save as many lives as possible, and that goal was achieved,” she said. “The 610 units that were collected between the two schools will go a long way in helping the American Red Cross toward its mission of supplying our hospitals with the blood they need so they can take care of their patients.”

Mortier said someone in the U.S. is in need of blood every two seconds and the Red Cross’ life-saving mission truly benefits from the support of CMU.

CMU donated 223 units of blood; Mortier said the donation will help save the lives of 669 people.

“Donating just one time helps save the lives of three people,” she said.

Williamston junior Kara Johnson helped organize the blood drive for CMU.

“I thought it would be a good idea to help organize and plan the blood drive,” she said. “I was able to contact the Red Cross, give out numbers, fill in time slots and help promote the event.”

Johnson said the blood drive surpassed the overall goal.

“Our goal was to have 45 people donate at our station, (but) we ended up having over 50 people donate so I was happy about that,” she said.

Johnson herself donates blood every 56 days.

The success of the blood drive has inspired Johnson to organize another.

“We are thinking about organizing another one soon with the help of the Red Cross,” she said.

Catwalk for a Cause, a fashion show organized by students as part of RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events, was held to benefit the American Red Cross Tuesday night and brought about 100 people to the establishment, 4855 E. Blue Grass Road.

McClung and her group members were faced with the task of planning an event for charity as a graded assignment for the class.

“I think it went great, I really do,” McClung said. “We had a really good turnout and I’m pretty sure we achieved our goal of $300.”

Twenty percent of purchased meals and drinks from 7:30 to 11 p.m. were donated to the Mount Pleasant chapter of the Red Cross.

The show kicked off with a performance from Central Michigan University’s all-female a cappella group, On the Rox.

Designs for Catwalk for a Cause were done by two apparel merchandising and design majors and local designer Kurt Carlson. Carlson’s interest in trying out for Project Runway was part of what propelled him to do the show.

“It pushed me to have a cohesive collection,” Carlson said. “I love recycling and I love to give things a whole new look and make things more modern.”

Carlson got all of his designs together in a month and attended the show with a broken leg.

“I’m really good under pressure, it pushes me to really get things done,” he said.

The event ended with prizes for the best dressed male and female winners.

Various raffle prizes from Emma’s Boutique, 111 S. University Ave., Ace of Diamonds, 128 E. Broadway St. and Detroit Pistons tickets were awarded to winners.

Milan freshman Kristine Opaleski was also a featured designer in the show.

She received an e-mail from the Fashion Association of Merchandising and Design asking if she would like to participate.

“I mainly design for petites because there aren’t many petite lines for people our age,” she said. “It’s another opportunity to put my stuff out there.”