Despite weather, blood donors came

Talk about it

Sixty-six people presented themselves to donate blood to the Red Cross on Jan. 23 at Zion Covenant Church in Ellsworth.

Five had to be deferred because of low iron or travel out of the United States and Canada. Probably because of the weather, 28 people did not make their scheduled appointments.

However, there were 22 walk-ins, which brought the total donation to 61 pints of blood. By giving up one hour of their time, they made the difference in the lives of many in this area.

The Red Cross motto is: "Give Blood, Give Life." Recognition goes to those who did just that: Trudy Young, David Johnson, Raymond Carlson, Tammie Wayne, Danette Huppert, Judith Perkins, Elaine Hines, Edward Haas, Mary Halls, Patricia Dodge, Wayne Dodge, Michael Graham, Arnold Sarnstrom, Dale Nelson, Lorin Bloomstrand, Adelaide Meyer, Connie Leonard, Douglas Sjostrom, Ann Foley, Miranda Staerk, Lawrence Bjork, Dean Hines, Clinton Olson, Glen Wakefield, Lyle Stockwell, Perry Melstrom, Suzanne Potter, Dianne Anderson, Mary K. Wild, Rose Mickelson, Nathan Kirchner, Kristin Meier, Mary Gardas, Jerome Johnson, Michelle Selzler, Sheryl Hirman, Traci Maxwell, Janice Gipford, Debra Johnson, Brad Johnson, Carol A. Johnson, Rodney Glampe, Ann B. Samuel, Mary Hines, Lance Nelson, Roger Nelson, Donna Constant, Charles Conroy, Curt Dumermuth, Jeff Leonard, Susan Gulbranson, Natasha Thoner and Alisha M. Radke.

Also on this list is Pamela Anderson, who agreed to be interviewed for the Herald article. Alvin Eidem received his seven-gallon pin and Ross Christopherson received his three-gallon pin.

These Ellsworth High School students need also to be recognized for realizing the importance of blood donations: Amber Maxwell, Morgan Christopherson, Katie Deiss, Madelyn Gardas, Caleb Gustofson, Isaac Taplin, Jay Pavloski and Dalton Traynor.

The drive could not have happened if not for the people in the community who volunteered to register donors (Vicki Nelson, Dorene Melstrom, Joyce Koller and Beverly Greeley), those who made appointments for the next drive (Henri Jansa), those who served the donors refreshments (Kathy Donnelly, Ingrid Rogers, Bev Bierbaurer and Norma Taplin), and those who directed the traffic (Ann Foley and Julie Christensen). The members of the Eastern Star who prepared the refreshments for the drive were Connie Leonard, John O'Keefe, Beth Kidd, Jean Krauss and Jean Marko). Appreciation also goes for donations from English Lutheran for the bars, Viking Coca-Cola for the beverages, Ellsworth Co-op Creamery for the cheese and to the Herald for the news stories.

The next drive will be at Ellsworth High School on Wednesday, March 21, from 8:15 a.m. until 2 p.m. (to make an appointment, call Ms. Kreye at 715-307-1668). The next community drive will be at Zion Covenant Church on Monday, May 21, from noon until 6 p.m. (to make an appointment, call Pam at 715-273-0310). The public may give at both drives, as they are the required number of days apart.

Tags: communities, ellsworth, health