Giving Blood - Giving Back

Last week our amazing AmeriCorps volunteers, Minna Abassi and Hannah Feltes worked with the Blood Bank of Alaska to coordinate a successful community blood drive.  The Bear Mountain conference room of the Alaska SeaLife Center  was temporarily comverted into a blood handling center and we had a steady stream of staff and community volunteers.  There is no permanent venue or system for blood donation in Seward and so the Blood Bank folks were delighted to once again travel down to secure these critical supplies.

Minna (l) and Hannah (r) - organizers and donors extraordinaire!

In all some 28 pints of blood were collected, which the Blood Bank calculates as having the potential to save up to 84 lives!  I was so moved by their efforts that I also stepped up... it has been a long time since I gave blood.  Back in October 2002, we were living in Indonesia and were asked to be emergency blood donors for victims of the Bali bombing.  I recall giving blood every 7-10 days for about three months as there was an acute shortage of my negative blood type.

Jen Curl - another satisfied donor!

I had forgotten how important those supplies are, but the Blood Bank of Alaska (a fellow charity organization) reminded us of the challenges of meeting demands for blood in Alaska and so I have now committed to joining many staff at the Center in offering to become a more regular donor... its great to give back!  And its great to see the Alaska SeaLife Center serve as a true community resource for a great cause.

I encourage all of you to do check out how you can support organizatons such as the Blood Bank of Alaska to continue their vital work in our community.