This report was submitted by Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./ARC Morrison Community Blood Program Leader. She is pictured donating on her way to 15 gallons.
The American Red Cross Community Blood Drive was held on Thursday, September 12, 2024, from 12:00 p.m., until 5:45 p.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church, on Garden Plain Road, Morrison, IL. The womens’ service group Wa-Tan-Ye was our sponsor; it has been the September blood drive sponsor for several years. We are very thankful for their faithfulness and dependability. The wonderful ladies who purchased and prepared the sandwiches and baked the cookies/bars were Deanna McLain, Nancy Usterbowski, Carol Onken, Dee Janssen, Ann Camp, Jan Horberg, Mary Ellen Brackemyer, Joan Wiebenga, and Monica Anderson. Donors, staff, and volunteers really love egg salad sandwiches, and homemade sweet treats are always a hit! I am very grateful to the two gentlemen who helped clear out the church hall the evening before, and then returned to put everything back into place at the end of the drive. We are blessed to have had the St. Mary Parish allow the ARC to hold their blood drives for several years. Special appreciation to the two certified ARC volunteers, Pat Pendgraft and Irma Russell, who assist with many things, including registration; keeping the food counter stocked; scheduling appointments for the next drive. Much gratitude to Rick Barr, who was a post escort, gave donors water and goodies, and handed out t-shirts from the ARC. We are so blessed here in Morrison!
In the last two months, there have been a lot of germs, bugs, and viruses going around. Numerous blood drives have been cancelled, at a time of numerous natural disasters around the Country. Thus, the blood supply is critically low.Our drive had 74 donation appointments back in July; 15 time slots were added in August, totaling 89 (increasing by 20% to help assist in the shortage.) There were 66 filled appointments at the beginning of the week, but we had eight cancellations by the start of the drive. “No Shows” totaled six, and there were five deferrals. One “walk-in” evened out our 50 donors, who came to help save up-to-three lives. We ended up with 52 good units going to Peoria, IL, for use at hospitals all over the Tri-State area. Our ARC goal was 62, so we were ten units short, with only 84% efficiency. I am actually surprised that it was that high, with all the COVID cases, that I’ve heard about recently. So many loyal people, from Morrison and numerous surrounding towns, keep coming regularly, supporting the critical cause. There is no synthetic replacement for blood components.
Our terrific donors who arrived to donate, giving up their time and their blood products, were Pam Shank, Cathie Downs, Lyle Bush, Barb Imel, Vaughn Maxfield, Julie Damhoff, Deb Adolph, Randy Kuehl, Ann Ganger, Marsha Geerts, Lorna Temple, Jackie Damhoff, Lisa Nice, Mary Latwesen, Renee Vanderlaan, Bill Anderson, Craig Brady, Chris Hawkins, Bill Kuehl, Joyce Hamstra, DuWayne Ottens, Kaywyn Beswick, Connie Tegeler, Joan Vander Bleek, Kevin Hook, Kari Forster, Keith Wiersema, Norm Edlund, Steven Wiersema, Carolyn Aiken, Dennis Zickert, Sarah Bull, Julie Brown, Beth Wroble, Dave Temple, Kelly Smith, Dale Belt, Tim West, Joe R. Bielema, Luke Vander Bleek, Jamie Given, plus six women and three men who did not want their names published. Eight folks donated double red cells/PowerReds, which are two units of packed red blood cells helping two patients. They were Vaughn Maxfield, Tom Rosenbalm, Keith Wiersema, Steven Wiersema, Dennis Zickert, Kelly Smith, Dale Belt, and one woman who did not want her name published.
Seven pins were earned. Kevin Hook reached one gallon pin; one woman attained two gallon pin; Deb Adolph achieved four gallon pin; another woman gained six gallon pin; Lorna Temple acquired ten gallon pin prestige; Cathie Downs obtained 12 gallon pin prominence; Tom Rosenbalm fulfilled 19 gallon pin distinction. These seven donors have helped save 1148 lives! I am so proud of all donors who reach a pin milestone; it really attests to their commitment to helping others.
Having met so many marvelous people while coordinating the blood drives over the last 1.5 decades, I really have come to enjoy the comradery of donors, staff, and volunteers. It is always a fun day of socializing, laughing, and even some singing and dancing. If you have never donated blood, please come try; it is not hard, and no worse than getting blood drawn at the Doctor’s office.
The next ARC Morrison Community Blood Drive will be on Thursday, November 14, at St. Mary Church, from noon to 5:45 p.m., with the St. Mary Catholic Church Parish Family being the sponsor. Sign up to donate online at www.giveblood.org, or text or call me at 815-718-5117. Message me on Facebook Messenger, or sign up to donate on the Red Cross Donor App on your smart phone. Remember to eat high protein, high iron foods for the three days before, and drink at least 32 extra ounces of water the morning you donate. If you have been deferred for low iron/hemoglobin before, ARC recommends taking an over-the-counter Flintstone’s gummie vitamin daily for three-to-five days before donating. Or eat steak the night before, like I do.
Have a blessed autumn. See you November 14. Bring a spouse, sibling, neighbor, friend, coworker, church member, or even a stranger on the street corner! Until then, stay safe.