Donators by the Dozens
and kitties too!!
...April 1st Blood Drive

The sun is warm today, the sky blue. Both are welcomed gifts after the somewhat gray skied week that preceded this Sunday. Donors seemed especially jolly, both on line, filling in the necessary paperwork, and in the bloodmobile itself, donating blood.

A total of 55 pints of blood was collected today at St. Joan's. No small job! The Memorial Blood Center of Minnesota sent nine folks out to get the job done. Organized

Becky Rose

by Becky Rose, Joyce Ferene coordinated registration, Robert Walker lead the team of nurses Angela Fields, Theresa Paulsen, Angela Fries, Arlene Drabek, Sally Parlu while Justin Petersen also drove the blood mobile. The draw staff was quite jolly today, in spite of the fact that many had to be to work in the early morning hours preparing for the blood drive after "Springing Ahead" an hour for daylight savings time!

As an aside, someone even "donated" kittens in front of St. Joan's today. By the time the blood drive had finished, the kittens all had homes. Spring is truly here, at last! Smiles were on the faces of those lucky enough to take a new pet home with them.

I asked Becky Rose about the hospitals benefiting from Memorial Blood Bank,(MBCM). She explained to me the difference between local blood banks, and the American Red Cross, a national organization. Blood obtained from MBCM goes to local hospitals first. It can be used elsewhere if not needed here, but the first priority is to take care of regional needs. In contrast, the Red Cross has a national hub in St. Louis, Missouri. That hub coordinates the distribution of blood, regardless of point of origin.

The need for people to donate blood is ever present. With the aging "BabyBoomer" population it becomes important for the younger groups in society to donate more. Also, for those who may never have given, to give, or at least make the effort to see if you are able to contribute. Science continues to make advances in using other species' blood as human blood part/whole replacements and work continues in making artificial blood, (compliments to biochemists). But in most situations, real human blood is still needed or preferred.

Many thanks today to the workers from Memorial Blood Center of Minnesota, the volunteers from St. Joan's who coordinated this event and to the people who donated blood or made the effort to do so.

Edie Kalweit has been a St. Joan of Arcer for 23 years now. Now that her children are grown, there is time to participate more fully in activities taking place at St. Joan's.

Many people in need in our community will benefit from this effort.