St. PHILIP CHURCH TO MARK BLOOD DRIVES
Volunteers for the American Red Cross Blood Donation drives held at St. Philip Lutheran Church will mark a special occasion Monday, May 6. In 1994, a group of women of the parish began promoting the drives which have been held twice yearly since. A total of 8,876 pints of blood have been donated during that time with the possible saving of 26,628 lives. According to Debbie Kanode, a co-coordinator of the drive, hosting the drives gave the church an identity in the Hollins community following its move to its present building on Williamson Road, just west of Hollins University.
The May collection will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donors will be provided a full meal prepared by women of the church, Kanode said.
METHODIST BISHOP RECOVERS ON LEAVE
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis, who serves the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, is on a six-month leave of absence to complete her recovery from complications that followed hip surgery she underwent late last year. Until she returns, Bishop Pete Weaver has been named interim. Headquarters of the conference, which includes most of the commonwealth, is in Richmond. The former interim is Bishop Peter D. Lewis who is retired and currently living in Williamsburg. He formerly served in the Boston and Philadelphia Conferences. – compiled by correspondent Frances Stebbins
