Kaywyn Beswick, R.N./Morrison Community ARC Blood Program Leader, submitted the report and photo.
The May American Red Cross Morrison Community Blood Drive was held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in honor and memory of Ron Wiersema, longtime blood donor, and then longtime blood drive volunteer. He passed away from multiple myeloma on Saturday, May 9. Click here for his Obituary notice.
Appreciation to the St. Mary Catholic Church for allowing us to host the drive in their church hall. Crossroads Community Church ladies were the sponsor of the canteen. There were delicious chicken salad, ham, and turkey sandwiches on several kinds of rolls and breads, chips, homemade cookies and bars, carrots and celery baggies with ranch dressing cups, fruit, and cheese sticks for the donors, staff, and volunteers to snack on. Those ladies who purchased and prepared all the goodies were Paula Rodriguez, Linda Temple, and Karen Fredericks; thank you for your wonderful kitchen talent. Rick Barr and Linda Temple assisted by walking donors from lounger to canteen table and serving them their water and snacks. Thank you for your time. Our dependable ARC Certified Volunteers were Pat Pendgraft and Irma Russell; I appreciate you both for making the blood drives always run smoothly. I am so grateful for Knight Terry Hoehn! He faithfully replaces everything to its original spot in the church hall, after being moved to accommodate the blood drive equipment and supplies.
We had 57 donors come to donate their blood product and time. There were 46 whole blood donors who will help save up to three lives: Bill Anderson, Bryan Vogel, Joan Vander Bleek, Tammy Pruis, Pam Shank, Randy Kuehl, Penny Milnes, Sheila Sonberg, Lisa Nice, Stephanie Vavra (donating in honor of her brother in the National Guard), Lory Oudekerk, Cathie Downs, Cal Venema, Beth Wroble, Kelsie Lowery, Nancy Shank, Connie Swanson-DeSpain, Larry Tichler, Ken Gooley, Rod Olson, Troy Peppers, Carolyn Aiken, Cindy Hoogheem, Brad Bielema, Ray Hagar, Dave Temple, Joe R. Bielema, Tim West, Dan Wheeler, Jr., Kelly Smith, Kari Forster (donating in memory of her father, Ray), Michael Sprague, Michael Mills, Nicholas Doering, and 11 people (six men and five women) who did not want their names published. We welcomed a “first-time,” William Hires; thank you for joining the ranks of ARC blood donors! Our 12 double-red-cell/PowerRed donors were Tom Demay, Dick Wieneke, Doran Dockstrader, Ron Shank, Tom Rosenbalm, Michael Stansifer, Keith Wiersema, Jack Jones, and three men who did not want their names published. Forty donors did Rapid Pass before coming in to give blood; that is about 70% using the app to answer registration questions beforehand, saving them about 10-15 minutes. There were only two deferrals, a great number, only 3.5%! Cancellations totaled ten before the drive began, and we had eight “no shows,” but the three “walk-ins” helped balance them out.
The ARC goal for the drive was 55 good units, and we collected 62; which is 112.7% efficiency. We had a goal of 26 double-red-cell/Power Red units, but we only collected 18, which is only 69% efficiency. (Two of our DRC/PR donors did not come in, and two were converted to whole blood donations, because their hemoglobin/iron was not high enough to give doubles. The goal was 29 whole blood units, and we collected 44, which is 151%efficiency. All in all, it was a great drive. My new Donor Recruitment/Account Manager was very pleased with our numbers! Thank you to all who came in and donated or volunteered.
Six milestone pins were obtained by donors; there were two men who achieved three-gallon status, but they did not want their names published. Proud donors included Larry Oudekerk (nine gallons); Dick Wieneke (11 gallons); Carolyn Aiken (12 gallons); Doran Dockstrader (34-gallons)! That is a total of 72 gallons donated just by six individuals! They saved 298 lives!
Grandmother Cathie Downs donated with grandson, first timer William Hires.
The July blood drive will be on Thursday, July 16, at Morrison United Methodist Church from noon to 6:00 p.m. The canteen sponsor will be Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, across from the Fire Station. Bring a photo ID. There will be good food, great music, and fellowship!
Know this: every two seconds, someone is in need of a blood product. Blood cannot be synthetically made; it has to come from another human donor. Please consider becoming a blood donor, because you will save up-to-three people’s lives with your donation! It is easy, usually takes less than an hour, and feels both rewarding and humbling. Urge a relative, friend, spouse, neighbor, sibling, or coworker to participate. “The more (lives saved), the merrier!”
Text me or call 815-718-5117 with any questions. Thank you very much.