Kaywyn J. Beswick, R.N./American Red Cross Morrison Community Blood Program Leader submitted the report and photograph.
The fifth American Red Cross Morrison, IL, Community Blood Drive of 2026 was held on Thursday, September 10, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 13320 Garden Plain Road, from noon until 6:00 p.m. It is a blessing for me to know that my Church allows their church hall to be used by the ARC for the afternoon. Credit goes to Terry Hoehn for clearing the church hall out to make room for the ARC equipment, to collect dozens of units. Our local Wa-Tan-Ye Women’s Service Group was the sponsor of the canteen. Thank you for sponsoring the September blood drive’s canteen for many years; I appreciate your dependability. Women who purchased and prepared sandwiches, veggie cups with Ranch dressing, cheese sticks, and cookies were Jan Horberg, Monica Anderson, Ann Camp, Diane Engelkens, Carol Onken, Dee Janssen, Deanna McClain, and Nancy Usterbowski. (The egg salad was fantastic; the wheat ones were the first to be gone.) Much appreciation to you all for giving of your time and kitchen talents.
Acknowledgement to Rick Barr for post-donation escorting for us; I am grateful for your faithfulness. Recognition goes to one of our ARC-certified volunteers, Pat Pendgraft, for almost always showing up to help. I value your ability to get donors scheduled for the next drive; it makes less work for me later.
Fifty-six people came to donate blood. Three were first-time donors, or it had been a long time since they last donated. We only had three cancellations and seven “no-shows,” that were somewhat balanced out with three walk-ins. Donors received a Hello Kitty pouch, with a small stuffy of the cartoon cat and some decal/stickers to promote kindness.
There were nine great double-red-cell/Power Red donors who helped save two lives each; they were Doran Dockstader, Tom Rosenbalm, Jim Fisher, Ron Shank, Tom Demay, Jack Jones, and three gentlemen who did not want their names published.
The wonderful whole blood donors who help save up-to-three lives each were Dale Beswick, Pam Shank, Penny Milnes (given in memory of 9-11), Cathie Downs, Brian Vogel, Cal Venema, Lory Oudekerk, Joan Vander Bleek, Randy Kuehl, Stephanie Vavra, Lyle Bush, Sheila Sonberg, Troy Peppers, Beth Wroble, Nancy Shank, Dick Wieneke, Larry Tichler, Jessica Sweitzer, Janice Parish, Elizabeth Davis, Kelsie Lowery, Connie Tegeler, Kaywyn Beswick (donating in memory of Charlie Kirk), Carolyn Aiken, Ken Gooley, Brad Bielema, Julie Brown, Deb Adolph, Dave Temple, Tim West, Kelly Smith, Kari Forster, Robyn Stewart, Connie Swanson-DeSpain, and eight men and four women who did not want their names published.
Seven donors were recognized for reaching milestone pin status. They were Troy Peppers making one-gallon pin status; Randy Kuehl and Tom Demay acquiring 13-gallon pin prominence; Tom Rosenbalm attaining 20-gallon distinction; two men and one woman who did not want their names published who obtained one-gallon (2) and 13-gallon (1) merit.
Forty Rapid-Pass pregistration users lessened their time taken to donate; that is 71.43% (excellent)! We had only three deferrals for the whole drive, which is about 5% (fabulous)! Around 20% of my donors come from out-of-town–in the surrounding communities of Fulton, Clinton, Savannah, Mount Carroll, Milledgeville, Chadwick, Rock Falls, Sterling, and even Atkinson. I really appreciate these great folks taking the time and driving the distance to attend our blood drives. We could never reach goal without your assistance. Thank you again, everyone!
The next Morrison Community American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Thursday, November 12, from noon to 5:45 p.m., at St Mary’s Church. St Mary’s Parish Family will sponsor the canteen. November is “National Diabetes Awareness Month,” and the ARC will do free screenings of the A1C levels of some blood donors. They also do this in March, and it is once a year per donor).
Come with a photo ID or your ARC donor card/Blood Donor App on your phone.
Bring your spouse, a friend, a neighbor, or a coworker!
Joining the regular blood donor ranks is one of the easiest ways to meet your civic duty and responsibility; fulfill it by donating blood. You can text/call me at 815-718-5117, email me at kaywynbeswick@gmail.com, or go online to www.redcross.org to make an appointment.
Have a blessed autumn and stay safe!