Allendale Chamber Lists Blood Drive, Theatre Auditions, Networking Breakfast for March

The American Red Cross declared a severe blood shortage after the national blood supply fell about 35% over the past month — and the Versiti Blood Center of Michigan's recurring Coopersville drive, listed on the Allendale Area Chamber of Commerce's events calendar for Tuesday, March 24, offered the West Michigan community a direct way to push back.

Faith Community Church of Coopersville, at 105 68th Ave. N, hosts the drive on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Versiti Blood Center of Michigan is the primary, and sole, provider of blood products to the hospitals that care for area residents. Donations stay local, benefiting Michigan hospital systems and patients at Corewell, Henry Ford, and others. That means blood drawn in Coopersville on a Tuesday afternoon could reach a West Michigan surgical suite by Thursday. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood, and it is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries.

The Coopersville location offers the ALYX machine, where donors can give plasma, double red cells, or platelets in addition to whole blood. Donors must be at least 17 years of age in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. To schedule an appointment, visit versiti.org or contact Faith Community Church coordinator Kris Brandt at 616.997.9225, or find the drive listing through the Allendale Area Chamber's events calendar at allendalechamber.org.

The March 24 drive was one of several community activities the Chamber highlighted in its late-March calendar. The Allendale Civic Theatre held auditions Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26, drawing performers of all ages. The theatre categorizes its auditions under Arts & Culture, Clubs/Organizations, and Kids & Family, reflecting its reach across age groups and community roles. Interested performers can contact the Allendale Civic Theatre through the Chamber's events listing to find audition times and role descriptions.

Rounding out the week, the Chamber's monthly networking breakfast, Good Morning Allendale, took place Thursday, March 26, with a registration option visible directly in the calendar listing. The breakfast brings together local business owners, nonprofit leaders, and municipal officials for updates, networking, and planning conversations. It functions as one of the few recurring forums where those three groups share a table, making it a practical venue for anyone tracking grant opportunities, job-training programs, or upcoming civic projects.

The Chamber's broader calendar, which shows 365 active entries, also included the Mission Allendale Food Truck on Saturday, March 21; the Allendale Township Board Meeting and Storytime at the Allendale Township Library on Monday, March 23; and a Diaper Ministry hosted by Valley Church on Saturday, March 28. The full listing is maintained at allendalechamber.org under the Events Calendar tab.

The Coopersville drive's coordinator has compiled a list of 800 donor names over the last 10 years — a quiet testament to what a monthly community blood drive can build over time in a small county.