In early 2018 a growing subset of Dairyland, comprised of both employees and their family members, decided to incorporate regular blood donation into their lifestyles. What started with one individual rapidly expanded; now 15 members donate, bringing our combined giving total to 37 units in only 10.5 months.
Linda, Dairyland’s Shipping & Receiving Coordinator, who played an instrumental role in boosting our momentum, shares why she cares so deeply about giving back this way. It first started when she was employed at the American Red Cross before her 19-year tenure (to date) at Dairyland.
“I saw and heard first-hand how blood donations impacted patients.” Those patients weren’t just distant strangers but also close family members including her husband, dad, mother-in-law, and more. Their lives were preserved because other generous contributors chose to give.
Linda also recalls the AIDS epidemic of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s when patients did not know with certainty if their transfusions were safe. Today the Red Cross states someone needs blood every 2 seconds, whether due to surgeries, chronic illnesses, a traumatic injury or cancer treatment. Because it cannot be manufactured, blood must come from volunteer donors, a reality further complicated by the fact that under 38% of the population is eligible to donate.*
“It’s such an easy process that can have a huge impact,” says Linda whose “boring” (her description, not ours) but healthy lifestyle has enabled her to give for years when others cannot. And an impact it certainly has since each unit can save up to 3 other lives.
As we begin 2019, our expanding group settled on a goal of donating 60 units, translated in lives potentially saved to 180. It’s just another way we can Live Engaged and practically respond to the needs around us.
As Linda would say, “Stay healthy and keep rolling up your sleeves!”
*The American Red Cross
This past Friday, a team of Dairyland employees took the day off to volunteer locally with Habitat for Humanity. Let’s just say they nailed it.
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit that connects volunteers and partner families for the purpose of building or restoring safe, affordable housing. Their mission is to “bring people together to build homes, communities and hope” and they envision a world where “everyone has a decent place to live.” In Dane County alone, which experiences a significant shortage of affordable housing, over 250 homes have been built since Habitat “moved in” over 30 years ago.
Together we shoveled dirt, stained fence boards, and installed Tyvek – all while catching up on each other’s lives and having fun. As one team member said, “It’s always nice working alongside your peers in a different capacity. It always amazes me how effortless it is to serve and meet the needs of others. The tiniest bit of initiative can be used to meet huge needs of others.”