The North Buncombe High School and North Buncombe Middle School Beta Clubs are collecting eyeglasses this Halloween in conjunction with the Give the Gift of Sight program.

Beta Club members will be “trick or treating” for used eyeglasses in different neighborhoods on Halloween. They will place door hangers throughout the neighborhoods ahead of time to let you know about the collection (and to give you time to find all those old eyeglasses you’ve been wondering what to do with).

If you would like to donate before Halloween, or if you live in a neighborhood which doesn’t have any Beta Club trick or treaters, you can drop off eyeglasses in drop boxes at these locations: North Buncombe High School, North Buncombe Middle School, Weaverville Drug Company, If It’s Special, Weaverville Dance Academy, North Asheville Baptist Church, Woodland Hills Church, and Locust Grove Baptist Church.

According to their website, Give the Gift of Sight is a charitable program which provides free eyewear to underprivileged individuals in North America and developing countries around the world. The program also sponsors mission trips where volunteering optometrists and mission workers hand-deliver the donated glasses.

Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care will be holding a health screening at the Ingles on Weaver Blvd. on Thursday, November 8, 8:30-11:30 am. They’ll be doing free blood pressure and weight checks. If you would like to have your blood sugar (glucose) checked and a lipid panel to determine your cholesterol you should fast for at least 4 hours. The cost of that test is $15.00.

For more information contact Sherrie Byrd at Sisters of Mercy, 645-5088 or Leah McGrath, the Dietitian with Ingles, at 669-2941 ext. 470.

There will be two Red Cross bloodmobile drives in Weaverville in August. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. Positive photo identification is required. Donors are also encouraged to call the listed number to make an appointment.

August 19
Noon-4:30 p.m.
Weaverville United Methodist Church Fellowship Building
85 North Main Street
For information or to schedule an appointment, call 645-6368 or 645-6721.

August 21
2-6:30 p.m.
North Point Baptist Church
119 Monticello Road
For information or to schedule an appointment, call 658-2226.

According to the Red Cross, even though only 5% of eligible people actually donate blood, it is estimated that 95% of us will need blood or a blood product during our lifetime. In the Carolinas Blood Services region, more than 1,500 units of blood are needed each day for patients in local hospitals. To learn more about donating and how your donation is used, check out the Blood Facts page on the Red Cross - Carolinas Blood Services Region website.