Community blood drive meets goal

To the Editor:
The first blood drive for 2018 was held on Wednesday, April 25. The American Red Cross (ARC) set our goal for this drive at 111 units and we met the goal exactly: 111. The ARC team was very happy about that!
Thank you, donors, for keeping your appointments and donating your gift of life to someone you will probably never know but who desperately needs your help. There were 12 no-shows at this drive, less than half of the number who usually “don’t show.” Many Thanks to the 13 walk-ins who waited patiently for an opening and helped fill these holes in the donation schedule. Yay! Without the donors, there would be no blood drive.
Thank you, volunteers, for your hard work and dedication at each blood drive. Each drive is a team effort and our many volunteers make it happen. The ARC team is always impressed with the smooth progression of our drives, thanks to our efficient volunteers. The ARC team and volunteers on duty are especially grateful for the late afternoon homemade light meal prepared for them by our volunteer cook, Sharon Schauer. It is a long busy shift for the ARC team (who arrive before noon and leave after 8 p.m.) so they appreciate the break time.
Thank you, Glencoe Community businesses, for your community support with services and products! The Glencoe City Center allows us the use of the ballroom in the beautiful historic facility for the blood drive, with setup and takedown by the custodians. (As a reflection on the community, there are always ARC personnel at every blood drive who comment on the remarkable building and setting for the blood drive.) The local Coborn’s and Security Bank & Trust support us with their products and services. The McLeod County Chronicle does not charge us for publicity for the blood drive. Keebler Corporation continues their nationwide support of the American Red Cross with donations of Keebler products for the after-donation snacks and juices. We use the financial support from Thrivent Financial Action Team to cover the cost of the additional refreshments we serve to the donors after their donation, and food for the meal served to the ARC team and volunteers.
Mark your calendars: We repeat this whole process again in 10 weeks (70 days) on Wednesday, July 11, the second Glencoe Community Blood Drive of the year. Make a note: This is two weeks earlier than our regular schedule this year. Many donors have already pre-scheduled their July appointments. There are open time slots, so if you want to pre-set your July appointment, please call our Scheduling Coordinator Nelda Klaustermeier at 320-864-3475.
Our inventory of Power Red (formerly Double Red) donors is low in July; those who donated in April are not yet eligible to donate in July. If you are able and eligible to donate Power (Double) Red units in July, please call Nelda and make an appointment.
Charleen Engelmann
Coordinator
Glencoe Community Blood Drive