Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./Morrison Community Blood Program Leader, submitted the report and photo. One-month-old granddaughter, Hayden Nicole, attended her first Blood Drive.
It was the “wearing of the green” on St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17, 2022. If donors were not wearing anything from hunter-to lime-to sage shades, we provided shamrock-colored marker ink on their name tag. So nobody got pinched!
March is Red Cross Month, and every donor who came into the drive will receive a $10 Fanatics e-gift card by email, and will be entered into a chance to win a trip to a MLB game. Check your email.
St. Mary Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison, IL, provided the facility. It continues to give us a home to host this and upcoming Morrison Community Blood Drives of 2022. Thank you, for allowing us to use your church hall, Parish Family. Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for clearing out the church the evening before the drive, and returning to put everything back into place at the end of the drive. They were Terry Hoehn and Jim Fisher. Bethesda Lutheran Church Women managed the canteen by purchasing and preparing sandwiches, cookies, bars, and drinks. They were Nancy Pannier, Deloris Smith, Nancy Usterbowski, Carol Onken, Dee Janssen, Monica Anderson, and Carol Sticher. Thank you, ladies, for being dependable annually at the March blood drive. Special thanks to our Blood Donor Ambassador (certified volunteer), Pat Pendgraft, and Mary and Vern Latwesen, who stayed to help. I really appreciate all three of you, for always going above and beyond!
Nine donors reached gallon pin milestones. Debra Knapp will receive a one-gallon-pin. Luke Vander Bleek earned a two-gallon-pin. Two contributors attained three-gallon-pins: Sue Gomez and Mark Zinnen. Connie Tegeler will acquire a four-gallon-pin. Three people merited an eight-gallon-pin: Julie Damhoff and two gentlemen who did not want their names published. A final altruist accomplished the 18-gallon status; that was Vern Latwesen. These nine generous benefactors have helped save 960 lives over their blood donation careers!
Double Red Cell/Power Red donors numbered nine citizens. They were Calvin Vandermyde, Tom Rosenbalm, Patrick Doty, Mark Zinnen, Ron Shank, Dick Wieneke, and three gentlemen who did not want their names published. Other terrific folks who gave their time and donated whole blood products were Dale Beswick, Randy Kuehl, Bryan Vogel, Lyle Bush, Lisa Wiersema, Dave Boyles, Cheryl Geiger, Deb Adolph, Amy Oudekerk, Stephanie Vavra, Lisa Nice, Chris Hawkins, Pam Shank, Jackie Damhoff, Beth Wroble, Sarah Bull, Connie Swanson-DeSpain, Keith Wiersema, Nancy Shank, Robyn Stewart, Dave Temple, Joe Bielema, Bill Kuehl, Caleb Fuller, Brooke Newman, Mary Latwesen, Joan Vander Bleek, Teresa Slagle, Larry Tichler, Kari Forster, Doug “DJ” Fulton, and four others who did not want their names published.
More statistics from the blood drive. The ARC goal for the day was 54 good units, and we sent 57 to Peoria: so, we exceeded goal by 105.5%. There were only six “no-shows/people who were “ill,” which is 10%. Out of 52 folks that came through our doors, 34 (65%) did online “RapidPass,” which streamlines the medical history process; 18 (35%) did not utilize the app for blood donors. There were three walk-in donors, which the ARC is now fitting into the “no-show” time spots, if staff is available. We had only four deferrals, which is great! Every two seconds, someone in the U.S.A. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, packed red blood cells, platelets, or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. Even though approximately 37% of the population is eligible to donate blood, only around 3% of them donate blood yearly (a very sad statistic.) If you cannot donate blood, offer to volunteer.
Call me at 815-718-5117 with questions, or check out http://www.redcrossblood.org for lots of information.
The next Morrison Community Blood Drive will be on Thursday, May 19, from noon to 6:00 p.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison. The St. Mary Parish Family will sponsor the canteen. Sign up to donate online; call, text, or message me on Facebook to schedule your spot. Save up to three lives in less than an hour! Easy-peasy and instantly humbling and rewarding.