Kaywyn J. Beswick, R. N./ARC Blood Drive Coordinator, submitted this report and photo. She is in the lower corner of the picture.
The sixth and last Morrison American Red Cross blood drive of 2017 was held on Thursday, November 16, at Morrison United Methodist Church. The ARC goal was at least 53 good units to end up going to Peoria, IL, that evening, and we just made it right on the nose! We had 52 people come through the door to help us. It was a nice day outside, but the Cty Hall time and temperature sign was not lit up to tell us the exact degrees.
Even though we had seven appointments not make it in, our eleven “walk-ins” made up for them being unable to come. Usually our walk-ins make up 1/4-to-1/3 of our numbers. On this drive they accounted for about 20% of the great people, who took time out of their day to save lives.
The DRC (double-red-cell) donors helped boost our units, as we had six of them giving the equivalent to two units. They were Vern Latwesen, Harvey “Bud” Tegeler, and four people who did not want their names published as donors. We only had two persons be deferred, which is a wonderfully low number, particularly this time of year. Normally, the ARC anticipates about a 7% deferral rate, so we were well under that.
We had one first-time donor; although he is not new to donating blood, he is new to the American Red Cross donor ranks. Luke Vander Bleek had always given with the MVBC at the schools, but, because the sponsor was his church, he supported his fellow parishioners. Thanks, Luke, for joining the ARC donorship!
Speaking of sponsors, St. Mary’s Catholic Church sponsored their second annual blood drive. Wonderful ladies and gentlemen from St. Mary’s who purchased, prepared, and served food and manned some of the stations were Lana Nugent, Fran Norman, Jackie Jevne, Joan Vander Bleek, Sandy Schroeder, Bridie Bartnicke, Vern Latwesen, Cathy Bell, Kaywyn Beswick, and Betsy Prombo. Thank you all for your contribution to the success of the drive!
A huge thank you to Morrison United Methodist Church for allowing the ARC to use their great facility to host the blood drives; we appreciate your dependability and generosity. Tremendous gratitude goes out to the Kiwanis for the faithfulness in unload the truck in the morning and returning to reload the truck in the evening. They were Nick Becker, Ken Huizenga, and Ron Finnicum. Also, appreciation goes to the devoted volunteers who man the stations in the room. They were Marian Dykema, Marcia Haag, Maisie Renkes, Sandy Schroeder, and Bridie Bartnicke. These ladies always have my back and help out at almost all of the blood drives.
Terrific blood donors who came in that day, giving their time and valuable blood, were Vicki Carroll, Thomas Rosenbalm, Mary Latwesen, Lavonne Dykema, Randy Kuehl, Kim Mulnix, Dale Beswick, Lynn Reimer, Beth Wroble, Susan Ottens, Janet Manchester, Renee Vanderlaan, Su Mahoney, Kristine Honeycutt, Jim Prombo, Cindy Hoogheem, Kelsie Lowery, Chris Hawkins, Millie Schaver, Bryan Vogel, Evan Haag, Darlene Smith, Stephanie Vavra, Margaret Barr, Calvin Vandermyde, Connie Tegeler, Tim West, Susan Noble, Brad Bielema, Kaywyn Beswick, Carolyn Aiken, Nancy Shank, Joe R. Bielema, Susan Gomez, Pamela Shank, Kari Forster, and three who did not want their names published.
We have numerous donor “pairs” that donate: several husbands and wives; some parents and children; a grandmother and granddaughter; several coworkers, neighbors, fellow church members, and service group members. I would like to challenge us all to “bring someone with you next time.”
Our drive made the Northwest Illinois Territory Newsletter, with Millie Schaver being in the spotlight for donating over 25 gallons of blood over her 91-years!
The American Red Cross blood drives of 2018 will be moving to Fridays, in order to get the Jen Banks Memorial Blood Drive on May 4, into the Morrison ranks. The first drive of 2018 will be Friday, January 12, from noon to 6:00 p.m., at Morrison United Methodist Church.
If anyone’s church has the desire to host a drive, or if anyone’s business or service group wants to sponsor a drive, please call Kaywyn Beswick at 1-815-718-5117. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Blessed New Year!