Tulsa Community College West Sponsors Blood Donor Challenge – Thursday, Feb. 18

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February 4, 2016─ Tulsa Community College West and Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) invite all area residents to take the Blood Donor Challenge Thursday, February 18.  Blood given with OBI will save the lives of patients in area hospitals including Saint Francis Health System.

Healthy adults* can typically give and are welcome from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Student Activity Center. Each blood donor will receive a Blood Donor Challenge T-shirt.

“Some of our friends and neighbors face the challenge of simply staying alive every day,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO, Oklahoma Blood Institute. “This event challenges those who have never given life-saving blood to step up and join the movement.  And, since our donors typically give only once or twice a year, we want to challenge them to give more often.”  Donations can be made as often as every two months or six times a year.

OBI relies on donations from an average of 1,000 donors each day to meet the needs of patients in nearly 90 percent of the state’s hospitals it exclusively serves. One single donation can save as many as three lives.

Through a special initiative to support Global Blood Fund (GBF), any donor can forgo the T-shirt offered in appreciation for giving.  In turn, OBI will make a contribution to GBF, a charity providing supplies and equipment for blood centers in the world’s poorest countries.

Appointments to donate are not required but can be made by calling (877) 340-8777 or visiting obi.org.

* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission; 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds

Solace Church's Boo Bash draws thousands

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

There’s never been any shortage of Halloween fun to be had in Sand Springs, but one Prattville church is looking to make each year bigger and better than the last.

Solace Church put on their 8th annual Boo Bash carnival Sunday to major success and community involvement. Thirteen area businesses made contributions to the event which was hosted at the Tulsa Community College West campus for the fourth year.

Estimated crowds of between 4-5 thousand people showed up to enjoy the festivities, and there were plenty of fun and unique activities to participate in. 185 volunteers ran the event which included three carnival rides and eighteen inflatables which were all free to participate in. There were also seven food vendors on site selling fair-favorites such as BBQ sandwiches, funnel cake, snowcones, and more in addition to the tons of candy that was being given out.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol gave tours of one of their police choppers and Life Flight was there with a medical helicopter as well. The Oklahoma National Guard, Sand Springs Police, Sand Springs Fire, and Berryhill fire all participated with vehicle tours and candy, as well as the Solace Church Disaster Relief which is specially trained to respond to emergencies as soon as they happen. The Disaster Relief team coordinates with local relief efforts in events such as the 2013 EF5 Moore Tornado which killed 24. Solace and a local coalition of Baptist churches were on the scene immediately after that tragedy, as well as the March 2015 EF2 that destroyed more than 50 homes in Sand Springs.

Other contributors to the event include: Oklahoma Chiller, Oklahoma Medical Eye Group, Rebecca LaFevers State Farm Agency, Advanced Drywall Systems, D & N Fabrication, Heath-Griffith Funeral Home, Chinowth & Cohen Realtors, Dr. Richard Presley and Associates, Ovations Studio and Gym, Janeway Machine Inc., Downes Law Offices, Integrity Lighting, and Mars Candy.

Solace Church just turned 11 years old this August and is in its second year at its new location. In the last two years, the church has grown from an average attendance of 650 to over 1000. Though the church works together with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma for disaster relief efforts, they are a non-denominational church. Their mission is simple: “Love God. Love People.”

  • Solace Church is located at 7314 W. 41st St. Tulsa, OK 74107
  • Service times are 9:15 & 11:00 AM on Sunday
  • www.Solacechurch.com

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