Memorial Building busy with pre-holiday blood drive

By RICHARD JENKINS

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Ironwood - Donors reported longer wait times than past events Wednesday as the community turned out to the Ironwood Memorial Building to participate in the American Red Cross blood drive.

"(It went) fantastic," blood drive coordinator Betsy Slabaugh said. "We didn't expect (the turnout.) We had a full list (of appointments) but still people walked in a lot."

The drive - sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of the Ironwood Area - had a goal of collecting 58 units of blood, which Slabaugh and the other organizers were confident had been surpassed.

"It was very unusual for the day before a big holiday for all these folks (to donate)," Slabaugh said.

"Actually this one last year was my first (time) volunteering, and I was surprised how busy it was being the day before the holiday," said Chris Luxton, who is taking over from Slabaugh as blood drive coordinator for the Kiwanis drives. "I was inspired, just by the community support."

Slabaugh knows the importance of the blood drives.

"When I was just starting this, my younger brother had cancer and he needed blood transfusions. And at that time I could give blood myself. I said, 'This is why I'm doing it.' Even my own family, at times, will have to have it." Slabaugh said. "But then when I realized - and they keep saying this - your pint can help three people. That's how important it is.

"Blood can't be manufactured, it's got to come from people."

Even though Slabaugh said she was handing off the mantle of volunteer coordinator, she would still be around for future blood drives.

"I will still be a volunteer, probably at the canteen," she said. "But the torch is being passed to very capable hands."

The club sponsors a blood drive at the Memorial Building every two months. The frequency is probably one of the reasons it's one of the larger drives in the region, with the club being designated a premier blood giving group for collecting 387 units of blood in 2017.

"It's really nice the community shows up for this one," Luxton said.

Even those who can't donate blood can get involved, Slabaugh said, as the group is always looking for volunteers to help with the drives.