“The need is constant,” said Joni Stevens, Recruiting Manager for the American Red Cross. “We can always use more donors.”
The Red Cross held a blood drive at the Richland Mall Tuesday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. “The need is great and so are the incentives,” said Red Cross volunteer and donor Joyce Eyestone. “Each donor gets one ticket to Cedar Point, it’s a great incentive for a great cause,”she added.
Bill Doehla, a recruiting representative for the Red Cross spoke of the importance of donating.”For every pint of blood donated you can potentially save three lives,” Doehla stated.
Who needs blood? A child with cancer, a new mother suffering from unexpected complications at birth, a grandfather who faces open heart surgery. Everyday, patients across the country need in average 44,000 units of blood. According to Rodney Wilson, Communications Program Manager for the Red Cross donations are down 10 percent. This month the Red Cross issued an emergency concerning the low blood supply. Negative types O, A and B are always in demand.
Covering 27 counties including Richland the Red Cross does 25 drives a day in order to help support the needs of four level one hospitals, a trauma center and various county hospitals. An average of 800 pints a day is needed to meet the demand.
April Hedrick of Mansfield said,”It makes you feel good to donate, to know you are helping people.” Hedrick, who works for the United Way of Richland County and who has been a donor for over 15 years, hopes the event entices young people to donate.
“I am a regular donor, I also came for the Cedar Point tickets and to shop,” said donor 17-year -old Madelyn Brewer of Glenmont.
Christopher Smith, a phlebotomist for the Red Cross, said he was inspired to work for the organization for the opportunity to help people and the civic duty. Said Smith,“It doesn’t hurt that bad. I am a donor. I do it for the cause.”
Smith added that only two percent of the population gives blood. “If we could raise that number it would be great,” said Smith.
One free ticket per donor was among the incentives offered at the blood drive. Others included a drawing, two winners picked would receive a $500 gas card from Marathon and donors could visit www.redcrossblood.org/PacificRim to enter to win a trip to Hollywood. Juice, graham crackers and raisins were provided to donors to help recover.
Upcoming blood drives will be July 25 at County Fabrics, Shiloh held from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. and July 27 at the Grace Bible Church, Lucas from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We certainly can’t do without our volunteers,” added Doehla.
For more information visit www.redcrossblood.org/centralohio or call 1-800-RED CROSS or check our calendar for places and dates.
