Editor’s note: New pain-free, technology takes place upon screening, to determine the iron count before one donates. A clip-on, finger meter internally reads iron in the blood stream. There will be no more painful finger sticks!
Submitted by Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./Morrison Community Blood Program Leader, submitted the report and photos.
The Thursday, May 15, 2025, a Morrison Community American Red Cross Blood Drive was held at St. Mary Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, Morrison, IL, from noon to 5:45 p.m. Thanks to St. Mary’s for allowing the ARC to facilitate most of the blood drives in the church hall. I am indebted to Father Slawek for granting the Red Cross permission to use the space every other month. The canteen sponsor for the drive was Crossroads Community Church. Those who purchased, prepared, and served the sandwiches and cookies were Kris Muur, Paula Rodriquez, Linda Temple, and Phyliss Douglas. Thank you, ladies, for your generosity. ARC staff were so appreciative of the extra snacks that you women brought just for them; they had never had a sponsor do that for them before! Thanks and gratitude to my certified ARC volunteers, Irma Russell and Pat Pendgraft, and my escort volunteers, Pam Jones and Rick Barr, for always being faithful and dependable.
We had 68 people come through the doors at the drive. Fifteen of our 18 Double Red Cell/Power Red appointment time slots were filled before the drive began, which is over 83%! One of the three DRC machines was accidentally left in Peoria, IL, but staff brought it to Morrison, and it was up and running by 1:15 p.m. We have had three DRC machines designated to be present at our drives for several years now, because we have so many donors who enjoy giving the doubles. You have to be a certain height, weight, and blood type to donate doubles, but numerous donors are eligible. They prefer to donate this way, as they get “credit” for donating two units at a time. They only need to come to blood drives three times a year (every 112 days/16 weeks), instead of the usual six times annually. A whole blood donor comes to donate (every 56 days/8 weeks.) The terrific folks who contributed Double Red Cells were Vaughn Maxfield, Thomas Myers, Tom Rosenbalm, Craig Brady, Jim Fisher, Harvey Tegeler, Joe Sage, Joe Screnock, and one woman and four men who did not want their names published. There were two double red cell donors who did not come in (one cancelled and one did not show up; that’s four units unaccounted for.)
The wonderful whole blood donors who gave of their time and blood products were Cathie Downs, Duane Imel, Barb Imel, Deb Adolph, Julie Damhoff, Pam Shank, Randy Kuehl, Bryan Vogel, Lyle Bush, Bill Kuehl, Beth Wroble, Renee Vandelaan, Toni Decker, Penny Milnes, Joan Vander Bleek, Lorna Temple, Stephanie Vavra (in memory of Frank Vavra), Ron Pilgrim, Joyce Hamstra, Lisa Nice, Chris Hawkins, Jackie Damhoff, Bill Anderson, Martha Kophamer, Gerald Schultz, Mark WIlliams, David Stickel, Shanna Given, Pam Jones, Tim West, Kaywyn Beswick (in memory of Marion Beswick and Jo McLeod), Dave Temple, Carolyn Aiken, Brad Bielema, Taylor Whiles, Joe R. Bielema, Terri Thibado, Jenna Landheer, Sarah Bull, Madeline Barry, Jerrie Jackley, Susan Gomez, Kari Forster, Jacob Prombo, Lory Oudekerk, Luke Vander Bleek, and three women and six men who did not want their names published.
We had 11 (four did not want their names printed) fantastic individuals reach gallon pin milestones. Joan Vander Bleek, two other women, and one man earned 2 gallon pins. Barb Imel and Tim West gained 6 gallon pins; Jim Fisher and another gentleman acquired 8 gallon pins; Thomas Myers attained a 13 gallon pin; Chris Hawkins procured an 18 gallon pin; Joe R. Bielema achieved a 20 gallon pin. These 11 women and men tallied up a total of 87 gallons of blood donated over their lifetimes. They have given over 696 units and helped over 1392 lives!
Chris Hawkins procured a 18 gallon pin.
Joe R. Bielema achieved a 20 gallon pin; he displayed his ARC gallon pins.
The ARC goal for our drive was 60 “good units,” and we brought in 69. That is 115% efficiency. Our “Rapid Pass” users numbered 46, which means that 68% of the donors used this time-saving questionnaire prior to coming in to donate. There were only five deferrals, which is 7%, and the ARC expects that many. Walk-ins totaled three, which helped balance out the deferrals.
One first-time donor joined the ranks. With about 37% of the U. S. population eligible to give blood, only 7% actually do. That is a sad statistic. I am very appreciative of the regular donors who ask their coworkers, family members, friends, and neighbors to come in, to try donating blood. It is a fairly easy process that usually takes less than an hour. Each donation helps save up to 3 lives. It is no more painful than a lab blood draw stick. We have good food, great music, lively conversations, and fun socializing.
Please consider joining us at the next ARC Community Blood Drive to be held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway, where the canteen sponsor will be the MUMC. Pass the word to become a hero and to fulfill your civic duty by donating blood!