Giving blood is a great gift for the community, people in need

Editor:

I have been meaning to write this for some time, but like many, I tend to get busy doing things that are maybe not quite as important.

So, I would like to encourage you to consider donating blood. I started donating more than 40 years ago, probably for the sake of feeling that by doing so, I was helping someone who may be in need. I have continued all this time, as it is simple, not time consuming nor painful, but more importantly, because it helps me feel good about doing something important.

I know that there is a blood shortage, and will probably always be a need for blood, especially with all the disasters that seemingly have increased in numbers in recent years. I have also discovered that the Red Cross estimates that only about 3% of the population actually donates.

So, would you consider donating in the next few months, which if you do not know, you can donate every 56 days? For those of you who have never donated, you can find a donation site close to home (click here). This means that you can likely complete the donation process in an hour or less.  And, to save even more time, on the day of your scheduled donation, you can log onto the Red Cross website and complete “Rapid Pass,” which is a series of pre-donation questions which you must answer before the actual donation.

The following are some of the donation sites in the next few months which are close to home: December 16th at the Hoag Library in Albion; Dec. 18th at the Middleport Fire Department, Jan. 19th at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, Jan. 23rd at the Albion Elks Club, and Sacred Heart in Medina In February.

I realize that many people work during the day. Most sites schedule donations as late as 6 p.m.  This does make for a longer day, but I’m hopeful that the feeling of satisfaction that you are doing something to help someone in need, will make it worthwhile.

And, maybe your employer would give you time off every two months to attend the local donation site. Or, if you work at a site, that employs enough people, might your business be willing to consider serving as a donation site for its employees? I know that the Red Cross staff will be glad to talk to your employer about that.

Tom Robinson

Medina