Category: Blood Donations
How Volunteering Led Me to Donate Blood — and Find Unexpected Love
By Red Cross volunteer Allison Skoglind Before becoming a volunteer with the American Red Cross, I had never donated blood. A rare hereditary blood disorder called protein S deficiency runs […]
Red Cross Phlebotomist Brianna Buchanan Is Drawn To Donors
By Red Cross volunteer Harriet Vanderbilt “I am a people lover”, declared Brianna Buchanan. When she decided to seek a career in healthcare, she wanted to find a pathway that […]
Life Flight Network Paramedic with 1,500 Missions Steps Up to Donate Amid Severe Blood Shortage
By Rebecca Marshall As a flight paramedic for Life Flight Network, Gary McQueen has made a career out of providing emergency lifesaving care and transport to patients suffering severe trauma […]
25 Years on the Road: How Robert Cork Found His Mission with the Red Cross
Written by Allison Skoglind, Red Cross Volunteer When Robert Cork first spotted a job listing for a driver with the American Red Cross, he wasn’t searching for a lifelong calling, […]
How An 8 Year-Old Turned a Leukemia Diagnosis Into a Powerful Force For Good
Written by Katherine Liu, Volunteer All smiles and a positive attitude while Olivia undergoes treatment and blood transfusions! Leukemia is a type of blood cancer in which the production of […]
‘Because I can.’ Oregon Blood Donor Hits 100 Gallon Milestone
Written by Isabel Anderson, Regional Communications Manager As he holds back tears, David Schapiro, a long time platelet donor, explains “my slogan has always been ‘Because I can’, it’s as […]
Katrina Long Traded 50K Trail Run for a Hospital Bed After Sudden Health Scare Ahead of 50th Birthday
By Patricia Griffiths, Red Cross Volunteer Katrina Long had been preparing to celebrate her 50th birthday by trail-running a 50K; instead, she ended up in the hospital, gasping for air. […]
Papa Johns Partners with Red Cross to Bring Blood Donors in the Door During Challenging Summer Months
Severe summer weather and disasters can have a sudden impact on the ability to collect blood and platelets. Scheduling and keeping donation appointments are crucial throughout this summer to ensure blood […]
From Donor to Recipient: Rhonda Powell’s Cancer Fight Inspires a Community to Give Back
Written by Isabel Anderson, Regional Communications Manager Rhonda Powell, an avid blood donor, never expected to be the person who relied on blood transfusions but in January of 2024, she […]
Dr. Charles Drew Blood Drive: A 20 Year Tradition of Sickle Cell Awareness
It’s one part celebration, one part family reunion, and one part life-saving blood drive. No matter how you slice it, the Dr Charles Drew Blood Drive is an inspiring event. […]









