EDUCATIONAL KITS
MONTEREY COUNTY — Transportation Agency for Monterey County unveiled its “Play To Learn Kits” for families on Feb. 24. Funded primarily by the Measure X Safe Routes to School program, the kits were developed in partnership with MY Museum, Cal State Monterey Bay and Blue Zones Project Monterey County as a way to continue providing traffic safety education to local youth who are remote learning due to Covid-19 restrictions. The bilingual English and Spanish language kits are designed to be portable, educational and engaging to children grades 0 to 5. The kits will be distributed across the county to 2,900 families through local school districts, Monterey County Office of Education, a local nonprofit organization and the Monterey County Health Department in the coming weeks.
VETERAN VACCINES
CENTRAL COAST — VA Palo Alto has expanded Covid-19 vaccine eligibility to any enrolled veteran who wishes to be vaccinated, as of March 8. Currently, Moderna is being offered at the Stockton, San Jose and Marina clinics, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) at the Modesto clinic and Pfizer at the Livermore and Palo Alto campuses. Veterans can call 650-496-2535, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to be scheduled.
BLOOD DONATION
SALINAS — American Red Cross is urging residents who are healthy to make an appointment to donate blood. The nation’s blood supply continues to face challenges from the ongoing pandemic and extreme winter weather that impacted much of the United States last month. More donors, especially those with type O blood, are needed now, according to the Red Cross. Residents can schedule a blood donation appointment at redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767. Locally, a blood drive is planned for March 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hartnell College, Student Center, Building C, 411 Central Ave. in Salinas.
