The report was submitted by Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./ARC Morrison Community Blood Program Leader.
The Thursday, November 14, 2024, American Red Cross blood drive was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison, IL, from noon to 5:45 p.m. Thank you to the Church for allowing us to use their church hall for the blood drives; we greatly appreciate that they accommodate us. The sponsor for November drives is the St. Mary’s Church Family. Those who assisted in purchasing and preparing the donor and staff sandwiches and cookies were Lana Nugent, Kathy Vos, Fran Plude, Mary Latwesen, Joan Vander Bleek, Shirley Nowak, Sandy Schroeder, DeeDee Harden, and Irene Bramm. Thank you, ladies, for your baking, kitchen time, and talents! The donors were excited to get egg salad sandwiches, gingersnaps, and snickerdoodles!
There were 74 people who came through our doors that day to help save up to three lives each. That is the highest number that we have had in several months! Thank You, Generous Donors. The wonderfully thoughtful donors who came in were Jeff Roggy, Zachary Goden, Terry Jones, Barb Imel, Cathie Downs, Pam Shank, Deb Adolph, Mark Zinnen, Lorna Temple, Stephanie Vavra, Lyle Bush, Randy Kuehl, Julie Damhoff, Sandra Decker, Marsha Geerts, Joan Vander Bleek, Karl Kovarik, Philip Oldt IV, Eric Larson, Tom Demay, Ann Ganger, Lisa Nice, Renee Vanderlaan, Du Wayne Ottens, Penny Milnes, Mary Latwesen, Bill Kuehl, Craig Brady, Ron Shank, Nancy Shank, Larry Jackson, Chris Hawkins, Jackie Damhoff, Kevin Hook, Dale Beswick, Mary Pilgrim, Ron Pilgrim, Jim Fisher, Jean Zinnen, Nancy Countryman, Martha Kophamer, Larry Tichler, Larry Sonberg, Sheila Sonberg, Mel Johnson, Pam Jones, Amy Oudekerk, Dick Wieneke, Connie Tegeler, Jon Bush, Brad Bielema, Kari Forster, Kaywyn Beswick, Mitchell Milnes, Carolyn Aiken, Jamie White, Joe Sage, Dave Temple, Susan Gomez, Joe R. Bielema, Kelsie Lowery, Luke Vander Bleek, D. J. Fulton, Sophie Milnes, Valerie Pell, Lisa K. Boles, Tim West, Denise Dillow, and six people (1 woman and 5 men) who did not want their names published. There were 15 double red cell/Power Red donors: Jeff Roggy, Terry Jones, Mark Zinnen, Karl Kovarik, Eric Larson, Ron Shank, Ron Pilgrim, Jim Fisher, Larry Sonberg, Mel Johnson, Dick Wieneke, Mitchell Milnes, Jamie White, Joe Sage, and one gentleman who did not want his name published. The ARC always sends three double red cell/Power Red machines to our drives, because we have so many double red cell donors in our area!
We had three first time donors who were also considered “walk-ins:” Jon Bush, Sophia Milnes, and Lisa Boles. Thanks to you three for joining the blood donor ranks; we greatly appreciate your bravery.
Six donors reached gallon pin milestones. Luke Vander Bleek obtained a 3-gallon pin; Kari Forster reached a 4-gallon pin; Mel Johnson attained a 5-gallon pin; Marsha Geerts gained a 7-gallon pin; Pam Shank secured a 17-gallon pin; Lyle Bush accomplished a 31-gallon pin status! These six terrific contributors have given 67 gallons total and helped 576 lives! The ARC staff counted eight deferrals, but I only counted six. Most were deferred for not enough hemoglobin to donate. This does not mean that the person is anemic, because the ARC has a high-end number for criteria to give blood. I recommend anyone who has been deferred before to take over-the-counter iron tablets (or ARC-recommended Flintstones gummy vitamins) for a few days before donating; eating a high protein and iron supper the night before (my hubby and I eat steak the night before blood drives), and washing their hands with very warm water when they arrive at the drive.
Regardless, we had six walk-ins that balanced out the six cancellations and the three no-shows. I am indebted to those who cancel ahead of time, so that we can have time to fill the vacated appointment slot. With no-shows, we do not have an opportunity to put another donor into their spot. I do message the no-shows to give them the opportunity to come in later and still donate. Most of the no-shows are donors who made their appointment on their own, and not through us at the blood drives or by me. I have started to message those who made their own appointments text reminders the day before or the morning of the drives. Maybe that is why we had fewer this time.
Also, please know that if you come earlier than your assigned appointment time, those with earlier set appointments will be taken first, and you will have to wait until the ARC staff can work you in. Most of our donors are very gracious and patient, for which I am very grateful. We have a pretty good bunch of kind and caring regular blood donors that attend our drives. Even the ARC staff have commented to me how tremendous our donors are, and how great the music and food is in Morrison. I have several who have gone to other drives in other towns, and they prefer us here in Morrison.
The next American Red Cross Morrison Community Blood Drive will be on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at St. Mary’s Church on Garden Plain Road, from noon to 5:45 p.m. The sponsor will be Ebenezer Reformed Church Women. Feel free to sign up for an appointment at www.redcross.org or text me on my cell phone 815-718-5117.
For an impactful New Year’s Resolution, try donating blood to save up to three lives. It is very rewarding!