As need increases, Red Cross always looks for blood donors

Selflessness is defined as being more concerned with the needs of others than your own.

That trait was on display Friday at the American Red Cross blood drive at St. Theodore Catholic School. 

Manchester resident Dianne Thomas said every time she gives blood, she knows she can help three people.

“It means a lot,” she said. “I’m saving someone’s life.”

According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, and approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the country. Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed in the U.S., according to the organization, and nearly 21 million blood components are transfused each year in the country.

Donor Barb Schroeder said she became a frequent donor when her grandson served in Iraq eight to 10 years ago.

“I know there’s a great need for it, and I always try to do it as often as I can,” she said.

“I come as often as I can because they need us for many things.”

To Schroeder, giving blood allows her to help other people.

“You just feel like you did something good for somebody,” she said. “And actually, sometimes when you give blood, more than one person benefits, a bunch of them do.”

Volunteer Peggy Vandersnick estimated she gave blood 10 times before she was unable to anymore.

“This is an awesome opportunity for us to help human beings who are in need desperately,” she said. “The Red Cross is such an awesome organization.”

Her husband was donating two units of red cells at the event.

Fellow volunteer Geraldine Horswell used to work at the former Red Cross office in Albert Lea.

“It’s just something you start doing,” she said.

According to the Red Cross, sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S., and about 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year.

More than 1.69 million people were expected to be diagnosed with cancer last year, many of them needing blood — sometimes daily — during chemotherapy. A single car accident victim can reportedly require as many as 100 pints of blood.

American Red Cross blood drives will be from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Bridge Community Church and by the National Guard Armory from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 15. To make an appointment, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org.

Nicholas Hellen, team supervisor for the Red Cross, said blood drives are conducted frequently to help increase the blood supply, including at least one per week in Albert Lea.

“We’re low on blood all of the time,” he said.

Hellen’s mother, father and grandfather have all received blood during their lives.

“It’s a blessing, it really is,” he said. “We’re definitely thankful it’s there when we needed it.”