Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./Morrison Blood Team Leader, submitted this report.
The Thursday, May 20, 2021, ARC blood drive was held at St. Mary Catholic Church hall, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison, IL, sponsored by the St. Mary Parish Family. St, Mary Catholic Church sponsors two drives per year and has been the location for all the Morrison Community blood drives since May 2020.
Kitchen helpers who purchased and prepared the canteen food were Lana Nugent, Connie Helms, Fran Plude, Joan Vander Bleek, and Jim Prombo. Those from the church who volunteered to man stations in the room were Mary and Vern Latwesen, Jim and Betsy Prombo, and Joan Vander Bleek. Pat Pendgraft, a Certified ARC Volunteer, also helped at the registration desk throughout the entire day. Thanks to the Knights of Columbus, who helped clear out the hall before the drive, and came back to place everything into its appointed spot after the drive ended. They were Terry Hoehn, Jim Fisher, and Jimmy Prombo. I appreciate the dependability of you gentlemen.
The ARC goal for the day was 51 good units. We had 54 present to the drive, with only one person deferred. There were 10 no-shows, but we had enough double red cell/Power Reds to outweigh those who could not make it.
Several donors reached gallon fulfillments: Julie Lemm has earned a 2-gallon pin; Joyce Hamstra and Craig Brady will receive 3-gallon pins; Tim West will acquire a 4-gallon pin; Kirk Pfeiffer will collect a 5-gallon pin. Dick “Wink” Wieneke has obtained 8-gallon status; Mark Schuler has gained 16-gallon status; Dale Belt has reaped 17-gallon status. (The ARC mails pins to recipients now; we do not give them out at blood drives anymore.)
Our wonderful double-red-cell/PowerRed donors, donating two units of red blood cells, were Natasha Peppers, Tom Rosenbalm, Craig Brady, Jim Fisher, Ron Shank, Dick Wieneke, Dale Belt, plus one woman and three men who did not want their names published.
The awesome whole blood donors who came through our doors that day–saving up to three lives each with their donation–were Barb Imel, Randy Kuehl, Lyle Bush, Lorna Temple, Julie Damhoff, Chris Hawkins, Philip Olt IV, Joan Vander Bleek, Ken Gooley, Nancy Countryman, Jackie Damhoff, Susan Davenport, Stephanie Vavra, Larry Tichler, Carolyn Aiken, Teresa Slagle, Darlene Hook, Steve Hook, Joe R. Bielema, Jill Bramm, Keith Wiersema, Kevin Medenblik, Susan Noble, Sheila Sonberg, Dave Temple, Donna Weets, Kari Forster, Susan Gomez, Nancy Shank, Connie Swanson-DeSpain, Pam Shank, Mary Latwesen, plus two more women and three more men who did not want their names published. I am forever grateful, for our very generous community of kind people who think of others.
Because the Jen Banks Memorial Blood Drives will no longer take place, I offered donors, who I knew had donated at these drives, an opportunity to document in writing who their blood donation is “in memory of” or “in honor of.” Julie Damhoff donated in memory of Deb Morgan, and Natasha Peppers donated in memory of Jen Banks. I will continue doing this at all future drives. Please pass this information to the many Jen Banks family members, friends, and coworkers.
The next community blood drive will be Thursday, July 15, 2021 from noon to 6:00 p.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison. The Sponsor will be Kunes Country Auto Group. I hope to see you all there.