The November 9 blood drive at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church brought in 54 donors with 55 pints of blood collected.
Four donors completed donations of gallons of blood: Celeste Stone, 14 gallons; Vicki Syfrett, 11 gallons; and Michael Delonge and Summer White, each with four gallons.
“The reason there were more pints than donors is when someone gives ‘double red,’ it counts as two pints,” said coordinator Norma Weeks. “That donor has to skip the next blood drive and can only give three times a year instead of six.”
Coming in to donate were Mike Kuszmaul, Kevin Wicker, Arlene Cassedy, Perry Ramsey, Bucky McCormack, Richard Berry, Samantha Walden, Margaret Brown, Wanda Caldwell, Fran Mack, John Rogers, Ernest Canaday, Vicki Syfrett, Joe Stone, Steve Blake, Moya Pierce, Doris Nettles, Jeanette Smith, Jarvis Craven, Celeste Stone, Richard Stroble, Diane Wicker, Arneal Thompson, Summer White, Sonya Manigo, Pete Pye, Alta Mae Marvin, Michael Delonge, Crystal Phillips, Tom Harper, Carroll Griffin, Morrison Payne, Jana Ramsey, Rebecca Stone, Minthalee Stephens, Alaysia Stephens, Sandra Jones, Valeria Mabry, Amber McCullough, Annette Harley, Angie Flynt, Linda Clark, Stephanie Persianni, Sandra Kinard, Loretta Smith, Sherri Watson, Paulette Barr, Kristina Moore, Mike Reock, Debra Galik, Tim Mabry, Tommy Carroll, Porchea Johnson and Norma Weeks.
The donors’ temperature is taken on arrival, social distancing is practiced and everyone wears a mask, Weeks said.
This was the last blood drive for 2020. “I’d like to thank all those who make the blood drives possible. First of all, I thank Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for the use of their beautiful church that makes our blood drives possible. I thank my faithful donors so much for coming in, no matter the weather. Anyone who has ever needed blood should thank them also,” Weeks said.
“I thank my canteen ladies who come in and work for no pay. Ada Bentley has been doing this for many years and never missed one drive. Ada also calls the churches to give the times and dates of blood drives so they can put it in their bulletins. Susan Harrison also works in the canteen. She had to miss this blood drive to attend a funeral, but got her friend Nancy Thomas to take her place. Thank you, Nancy. We enjoyed having you,” she said. “Two of our faithful canteen ladies retired this year. Carol Stevenson and Sylvia Carter worked the canteen for years. Sharon Paris puts out the posters in businesses’ windows. Brian Cassedy comes all the way from Lodge to put out street signs before the drive and comes back to collect them after the drive. His wife, Arlene, makes another trip to give blood.
“I want to thank all of you so much. None of us gets paid, but we all know what a life-saving thing this is we are doing,” Weeks said.
The next blood drive will be January 11. For information, call Weeks at 843-538-8950.
