This report was submitted by Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./Morrison American Red Cross Blood Drive Coordinator.
Thursday, September 15, 2016, was the 5th ARC blood drive in Morrison, IL, this year. We had the drive at our usual site, in the Heritage Hall of Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway. Thank you to the ever-accommodating Methodist Church for allowing us to use your wonderful facility, time and time again; the American Red Cross is grateful for your generosity.
Thank you to the Kiwanis, who unload the truck in the morning and come back to reload it in the evening. Those assisting were Nick Becker, Ron Finnicum, Lawrence “Ike” Isaacsen, Leonard “Len” and Levada Ashlin, and Kris and Bart Bielema . I appreciate their faithfulness.
Gratitude to our sponsor, Wa-Tan-Ye, who always sponsors the September blood drive for the Morrison American Red Cross. The gracious ladies who purchased, prepared, and served the delicious food and helped man some stations in the room were Jan Horberg, Clarita Vandermyde, Ann Camp, Monica Anderson, Joni Thompson, and Dorothy Demay.
The marvelous volunteers that helped man the rest of the stations in the room were Marcia Haag, Maisie Renkes, Deb Wikoff, Sandy Schroeder, Bridie Bartnicki, Michelle and Vern VanDyke, and Marilyn Habben. Acknowledgement to the always-ready-to-help people who keep the blood drives running, who come assist when I call them at the last minute, and do so with such kindness. I am so very blessed to know all the extraordinary folks in this great community!
Last, but not at all in the least, are the fabulous donors, who take time out of their busy day to come in and give the priceless gift of life, to those in need of blood products. There were four terrific double-red-cell donors, giving two units of packed RBC’s (red blood cells): Dwaine Schroeder, Larry Brozo, Al Smith, and Jim Shirk. Thank you, gentlemen, for being “twice as nice.”
Two pins were awarded. The recipients were Kim Mulnix, receiving a two-gallon-pin, and Brad Bielema, given a seven-gallon-pin. Between these two great people, 166 lives were saved!
The wonderful whole blood donors were Jamie Dauphin, Stephanie Vavra, Lynn Reimer, Randy Kuehl, Sandy Huizenga, Renee Vanderlaan, Craig Brady, Kristine Honeycutt, Bill Anderson, Chris Hawkins, Jim Fisher, Joe Bielema, Kaywyn Beswick, Callie Bush, Tim West, Jim Prombo, Carolyn Aiken, Evan Haag, Brooke Newman, Julie Brown, Nancy Shank, Dick Wieneke, Kelcie Hohlen, Connie Swanson-DeSpain, and six men and women who did not want their names published.
I am so grateful for all the magnificent multitude of generous folks in the area, who are so very kind to bless us with their presence and help patients in need. I cannot thank you all enough for your fantastic efforts. There are so many positive things about this community that make me so proud to call Morrison my home.
The next ARC blood drive will be on Thursday, November 17, exactly one week before Thanksgiving. What better way to start the holiday season, than by helping others in such a simple, but profoundly personal and life-changing way! Blood donation is a random act of kindness that literally saves up to three lives! Please join us from noon to 6:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church. We have good food, great music, and a tremendously fun time.