Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./ARC Morrison Community Blood Program Leader, submitted the report and photos.
The Thursday, March 21, 2024, American Red Cross Morrison Community Blood Drive was held at St. Mary Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison, IL, from noon to 5:45 p.m. Thank you, St. Mary, for allowing us to use your facility to host most of our blood drives. Also, gratitude to Knights of Columbus member Terry Hoehn, for clearing out the church hall the evening before the drive, and returning at the end of the drive to put everything back in place.
Bethesda Lutheran Church Women were the canteen sponsor for the day. Those women who purchased, prepared, and packaged the delicious sandwiches and cookies were Andrea Dalton, Nancy Usterbowski, Monica Anderson, Dee Janssen, Carol Stitcher, and Deloris Smith. Thank you, ladies, for your important contribution to feed the donors, volunteers, and staff.
Sixty-three people came through the doors that day. Our ARC goal was 60, and the ARC staff collected 71 units! That is 118.3% efficiency! Wonderful whole blood donors who gave of their time and blood products were Julie Damhoff, Barb Imel, Bryan Vogel, Pamela Jones, Mary Latwesen, Randy Kuehl, Deb Adolph, Joan Vander Bleek, Ken Gooley, Jenna Landheer, Bill Kuehl, Renee Vanderlaan, Lisa Nice, Penny Milnes, Cheryl Geiger, Eric Plaut, Grace Woo, Chris Hawkins, Jackie Damhoff, Philip Olt IV, Nancy Shank, Pam Shank, Kaywyn Beswick, Kenneth Stewart, Connie Tegeler, Cathie Downs, Kari Forster, Carolyn Aiken, Brad Bielema, Lory Oudekerk, Terri Monnin, Sarah Bull, Dave Temple, Tim West, Brooke Newman, Susan Gomez, Joe R. Bielema, Connie Swanson-DeSpain, Luke Vander Bleek, Hector Ruiz Trejo, and four men and three women who did not want their names published.
We had a total for 15 double red cell/Power Red donors who gave the equivalent of two units, and only have to donate three times a year. Photographed below are six of them: from front-to-back include (top) Vern Latwesen, Keith Wiersema, and Dwaine Schroeder; (bottom) Tom Demay, Larry Sonberg, and Tom Rosenbalm.
They were Tom Demay, Larry Sonberg, Tom Rosenbalm, Jim Fisher, Ron Shank, Harvey Tegeler, Keith Wiersema, Vern Latwesen, Dwaine Schroeder, Jamie White, Dick Wieneke, and four gentlemen who did not want their names published.
We had one first-time donor who did not want her name published, but I appreciate her joining the ranks of “regular blood donor!” Six sensational donors have helped save over 358 lives with their cumulative donations! Their donation pin milestones were met this day:
* Larry Sonberg and Jamie White gained one-gallon pins
* Susan Gomez was awarded a four-gallon pin
* Connie Tegeler received a five-gallon pin
* Ron Shank reached a 15-gallon pin
* Vern Latwesen attained 19-gallon pin status!
Forty-three donors (68%) used Rapid Pass prior to coming in. While on-line the day of donation, donors pre-answer several of the medical questions required when people come to donate. This saves the donor time before the donation process begins.
The Thursday, May 16, blood drive will be held at St. Mary Church from noon to 5:45 p.m.
Please consider donating if you are eligible. About 37% of the U. S. population is eligible to donate, but only about SEVEN percent actually donate on a regular basis.
For an appointment time or any questions, you may call or text me a message on my cell 815-718-5117. I can also be reached via Facebook Messenger.