MLK Day honored with blood drive and testing

In memory of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Office of African American Ministries of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the American Red Cross will sponsor a blood donation drive and a bone marrow testing Jan. 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Frances Academy, Baltimore.

A special prayer service in memory of Dr. King will be held 10 a.m., followed by the blood donation and bone marrow matching at the campus, which is located at 501 E. Chase St., said Therese Wilson Favors, director of the office of African American ministries.

“In both activities you will be helping to save lives or improve the quality of life for your brothers and sisters in Maryland,” Ms. Favors said. “Your donation is needed and as you give, you will be joining a national effort this day with other offices of black Catholic ministries and the American Red Cross throughout the United States. Let’s make this a banner year for the Archdiocese of Baltimore in memory of Dr. King.”

Free lunch and gifts will be given to all who participate.