Thin Mints, Tag-A-Longs, and Samoas – Oh My!

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore To Shore donate
thousands of boxes of cookies to Michigan Blood

Every day, people come to Michigan Blood to give lifesaving gifts but as of today, Michigan Blood is serving up a donation of a different sort: Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, Tag-A-Longs, Trefoils, and Samoas from the Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore, courtesy of the Gift of Caring program. Girl Scout cookies are being served in the post-donation areas, while supplies last, at main donor sites across Michigan.

Often, people want to support the Girl Scouts but don’t actually want the cookies for a variety of reasons. This year, Michigan Blood, as the 2013 Gift of Caring designated charity, received over 3,000 boxes of those “unwanted” cookies.

“Our donors at our donor centers across the state are getting a real treat!  When most families have already gone through their supply of Girl Scout cookies, we’re just getting started,” said Jim Childress, Vice President of Community Relations for Michigan Blood. “We are honored to be chosen for the third year in a row by the Girl Scouts and the generosity they’ve shown echoes the generosity we see every day in our donors.”

Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to give blood every 56 days.  Blood donors should bring photo ID (or two forms of non-photo ID). Appointments (preferred, but not required) can be made online at www.miblood.org or by calling 1-866-MIBLOOD (642-5663).

Give and Go!

Help support blood banks at local hospitals during the start of the busy summer season

With the first holiday weekend of the season, many people will travel to parades, cook-outs, and spend time with family and friends. This time of year also traditionally signals the start of the slow-down in blood donations.

Michigan Blood is encouraging donors to make an appointment to stop in one of our donor centers during the week following Memorial Day to help ensure an adequate blood supply at hospitals around Michigan.

“We know people get busy this time of year with outdoor activities, graduations and travel,” says Jim Childress, Vice President of Community Relations.  “Still, the need for blood never takes a vacation, so we are asking people to set aside about an hour of time to help save lives.”

As a thank you during our Give and Go campaign, everyone who attempts to donate will receive a $10 Meijer gas card. Childress notes, “People are on the go more this time of year, so the cards are a simple gesture to say thanks for taking time out to help boost the blood supply.” Donors will also get the chance to enter a drawing to win a $1000 Meijer gift card.

Here are details for Give and Go in your area:

• Grand Rapids – 1036 Fuller Ave NE – May 28-30 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and May 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Traverse City – 2575 Aero Park Drive – May 28-30 from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Saginaw – 1771 Tittabawassee Road – May 28-30 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and May 31 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Dow Diamond – 825 East Main Street – May 28-31 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Midland – 4005 Orchard Drive – May 28 from Noon to 7 p.m. and May 31 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Bay City – 1017 North Johnson Street – May 29 from Noon to 7 p.m. and May 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• St. Joseph – 2710 Cleveland Avenue – May 28 & 29 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Kalamazoo – 524 East Milham Ave – May 30 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and May 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Any healthy person 17 or older (or 16 with parental consent) who weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to give blood every 56 days.  Blood donors should bring photo ID (or two forms of non-photo ID). Appointments (preferred, but not required) can be made online at www.miblood.org or by calling 1-866-MIBLOOD.

Michigan Blood – Proud Community Partner

As a community-based blood bank, Michigan Blood embraces the opportunity to get involved with the communities we serve and the many people who are the heart of what we do: the blood donors, drive volunteers and blood recipients. That’s why Michigan Blood is proud to partner with the many hospitals around the state to take part in events that bring the community together. Pictured is a team from Michigan Blood which recently took part in a 5K Run/Walk in Kalamazoo.

Some recent events include:

• Covenant HealthCare's Covenant Kids Telethon Fundraiser – April 2013
• Borgess Run for the Health of It! – May 2013

Some upcoming events include:

• Run For A Cause ... Our Kids – Benefitting Helen DeVos Children's Hospital – June 15, 2013
• Lake Michigan Credit Union Bridge Run – Benefitting Saint Mary's Hospital – September 15, 2013
• Bronson Children's Hospital Walk and Run – September 29, 2013

We hope to see you there!

Creston High School Students Step Up

National Honor Society Volunteers Learn Life Lessons Managing Blood Drives

David Lyons has a special place in his heart for Creston High School. A 1987 graduate, he came back to teach honors English in 1993, and in 1999, he took over as the Advisor for the student run National Honor Society. Under his watch, David has taught, mentored, and left a lasting mark on more than 1200 students.  And while David is happy to talk AP English with you, one of his most favorite topics is the honor students who run coordinate Creston’s blood drives.  Many of the students are enrolled in the Grand Rapids Area Pre College Engineering Program (GRAPCEP) program at Creston in partnership with Davenport University. This is a school of choice program which is open to all students who fulfill the academic standards and behavioral expectations of the program. Course work has an engineering and biomedical focus, and students participate in internships throughout the greater Grand Rapids area. 

Whether David’s students line up to coordinate and support the biannual blood drives because of his influence or their interest in bioscience is a matter for friendly debate.  However,  there is no mistaking the vital role these students play in securing a safe, adequate and diverse blood supply for all the hospitals in the Grand Rapids area. In fact, he often tells them the story of his mom, who in 2007, had to have triple bypass surgery and needed blood. He is convinced one of his students helped save her life. David says, “There is not better gift than to give to people you’ll never meet. Through this selfless gift of donating blood, you’re giving the gift of life.” David also is passionate about “how important it is to teach young people about giving back to their community, and in giving blood, you can help others without having to open a wallet.”

National Volunteer Week runs April 21-27, 2013, and Michigan Blood is grateful for teachers like David and his National Honor Society students who voluntarily step up to help their neighbors. Creston High School will be closing in June and becoming the new home for City High/Middle School. Creston students will be redistricted, and David is unclear as to where his next teaching assignment will take him. One thing is certain though, the life lessons he has taught his students will be carried with them, wherever their lives take them. And as Bill Rietscha, CEO of Michigan Blood, explains: “Not only are these students playing a vital role today – they are setting the stage for making a lifesaving impact for years to come.  As our donor base ages and more ‘baby boomers’ become ineligible to donate, it is essential that we continue to introduce students to the donation process while in high school and encourage them to continue upon graduation.”

From left: Mallory Robinson, Kaleyiah Hudson-Anderson, Shalah Robinson, David Lyons, Leya Woods, Chrisan Stewart, Ana Arvizu-Mata, Jasmine Jones.  Back row from left: Caleb Howard, Kaleab Mamo.

Michigan Blood Hosts High School Leadership Training Workshop

Students Drive Coordinators Learn Key Skills
to Introduce Classmates to Blood Donation Process

On Monday, April 22, 2013, Michigan Blood will host more than 75 high school students and advisors from throughout West Michigan for an interactive Leadership Training Workshop to be held  from 10 am – 1:00 pm at Celebration Cinema North (2121 Celebration Dr. NE (Knapp and the East Beltline) in Grand Rapids.  The workshop is designed to provide student leaders with critical tools to engage their classmates in the blood donation process. 

Bill Rietscha, CEO of Michigan Blood, explains:  “It is our privilege to work with students throughout Michigan and engage them in the critical role of helping secure a safe and adequate blood supply for over 40 Michigan-based hospitals, and every hospital in Kent County.  Not only is their role important today – it sets the stage for making a lifesaving impact for years to come.  As our donor base ages and more ‘baby boomers’ become ineligible to donate, it is essential that we continue to introduce students to the donation process while in high school and encourage them to continue upon graduation.”

During this interactive workshop, high school blood drive coordinators will develop practical tools and leadership skills to host successful drives.  This three hour program will include interactive role playing, sharing best practices with other high school students, and brainstorming for creative messaging.   Students also will fine tune their social media skills and learn how their schools can host cause-based Summer Step Up programs to raise needed funding for their school organizations. 

This workshop is being piloted in Grand Rapids and will be expanded to cover Michigan Blood’s Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Traverse City, Saginaw, Midland, and Bay City service areas.    

For additional details, contact: Kristen Sisson at 616.233.8524 or ksisson@miblood.org.