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Thanks to the faithful donors at the blood drive

To the Editor:
Many thanks to all the faithful donors who donated at the Glencoe Community Blood Drive on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
The American Red Cross (ARC) set our goal for this drive at 128 units; we fell short of our goal and collected only 112 units! Each unit collected may help up to three patients, so the 112 units collected may help up to 336 total patients. This is the first time since I took over as coordinator five years ago (beginning of 2012) that we have not met our November goal. Even though we fell short of our goal, the ARC was pleased with the results of the drive.  The ARC Collection Supervisor Debbi said it best in her note to us:  “Thanks for making a difference.  Once again it was a great day here at Glencoe. I so appreciate your dedication and support! You have a wonderful community of donors!”
There were 110 people who appeared for donating. Twelve were deferred by ARC (unable to donate at this drive) for various reasons. Two were unable to complete their donations. That left 96 people who donated the 112 units: 80 gave whole blood units, and 16 double-red donors gave 32 units.
I continue to be greatly disappointed in our number of no-shows.  There were 29 no-shows this time, which I calculated was 23 percent of our total appointments. That’s almost one-fourth of the appointments! Very frustrating … 29 x 3 = 87 additional patients to whom we were unable to provide help through our community drive.
I do offer a big thank you to the 17 walk-ins who partially made up for the no-show numbers.
The efforts of the volunteers help us fulfill our lifesaving mission to the American Red Cross. Our many volunteers make it happen with their behind-the-scene and up-front support at each blood drive! As always, my thanks also go to the following:
• My co-chair/scheduling coordinator Nelda Klaustermeier and her faithful team of callers who do the hard work before, during and after the drives preparing the donor schedules.
• All of our dedicated volunteers who so graciously assist before and during the drive — we couldn’t do it without them!
• The National Honor Society members (through their adviser Carol Silus) at Glencoe-Silver Lake High School who deliver the advertising posters to area businesses and restaurants.
• The local businesses who provide their continued support of the three blood drives each year: Glencoe City Center and its custodians, Coborns, Security Bank, and The McLeod County Chronicle.
• Thrivent Financial Action Team for financial support for this drive.
Keebler Corporation continues its nationwide support of the American Red Cross with donations of Keebler products for the after-donation snacks.
The most important facets of this picture are the donors — who make the appointments, show up to donate, and do it all over again the next time! So each drive is truly a community team effort for which the American Red Cross and its recipients are grateful.
Our first community blood drive for 2017 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 26, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.,  at the Glencoe City Center ballroom. Many donors have already pre-scheduled their April appointments.There are still open time slots so if you want to pre-set your April appointment, please call Nelda Klaustermeier at 320-864-3475.
This year, I want and  need to acknowledge and remember three volunteers who have passed on during the past year. Two long-time faithful volunteers were Renae Jensen, who passed away in July, and Anita Montgomery, who passed away just days before she was scheduled to volunteer at this November blood drive. They gave selflessly of themselves for so many years to assist at the community blood drives. Kathy Ehlers, who passed away in October, was a newcomer to volunteering at the blood drive, but told me she was looking forward to helping at many more drives. We will greatly miss having all of them in our presence!  We are grateful to have shared our times together. THANKS-for-Giving!
I have a saying at home: “Thank God for what you have, Trust God for what you need.” May you and your families have a Happy Thanksgiving, a Blessed Christmas, and a safe and healthy New Year!
Charleen Engelmann
Coordinator
Glencoe Community Blood Drive