All donors who give blood at the American Red Cross drive on Tuesday, April 27, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Portuguese American Club on Vineyard avenue in Oak Bluffs, will receive a free umbrella.

School vacations and mild spring weather have contributed to a drop in blood donations. As a result the Type O negative blood supply has dropped to critical levels and is expected to dip lower through the end of the month.

While the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland may have drawn the world’s attention away from their troubles, the people of Haiti continue to struggle in the effort to rebuild their shattered nation. This has not escaped the Edgartown School’s parent/teacher organization, who are holding a clothing drive through the end of April to directly benefit the Sacre Coeur Hospital, and the Children of the Promise orphanage, located in Milot, Haiti.

Alpaca Birthday Challenge

Island Alpaca has announced a Birthday Challenge, inviting the public to predict which female in the herd will be the first to give birth this season. Guess closest to the date and time of birth, as well as the gender of the newborn cria, and win a $100 gift certificate to the Island Alpaca farm. For hints, information on alpaca gestation and details on the contest, visit islandalpaca.com.

Writers Open Mike

Every Tuesday night from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m., the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven hosts a Writer’s Open Mike night, a continuation of the popular gathering begun in March. The event is run and organized by Hannah Vanderlaske and Jess Dupon from the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School. Writers interested in reading their work should arrive at 7 p.m. sharp to put their names on the list. Readers will be given five minutes apiece; all genres of work are accepted and encouraged.

Our Island Club this week announced the distribution of their 2009 donations and scholarships. More than 160 Island organizations will share in over $36,000 in donations.

This year, scholarships will be established for the Permanent Endowment Fund for higher education, two high school vocational programs (auto mechanics and building trade), the Vineyard Nursing Association, Featherstone Center for the Arts and Martha’s Vineyard Community Services’ early childhood development program.