Decade of donorship

The Northeast Georgia chapter of the American Red Cross marked a decade of successful blood drives at the Elljay Lions Club by continuing to collect, while thanking those who donate with a community appreciation event Thursday, Nov. 14.

“We wanted to celebrate the (last 10 years) because that is the final blood drive of this decade. We had a community cookout with hot dogs and cake and other special food. We raffled off some prizes and gave away either a T-shirt or canvas bag to all the present donors,” said Cheryl Mahan, account manager for the Northeast Georgia Red Cross. 

Blood drives have actually been going on at the Lions Club for longer than 10 years, Mahan confirmed. 

“We have records in our database going back to 2003. Prior to that, we kept everything on paper. The Lions Club told me they’ve been doing blood drives there since 1995,” she said. The Red Cross chapter’s records show that, since 2010, Ellijay donors have given 5,782 units of blood. The blood services provider estimates that number equates to 17,346 lives saved.

“A unit of blood is equivalent to one pint or 500 ml,” Mahan said. “We say that one unit of blood can help save three lives. The reason we say that is because we take the whole blood and separate it into three components, which are platelets, plasma and red blood cells. That’s how we come up with that number.”

Ellijay is the second-highest blood collecting community in the Georgia Northeast district, Mahan noted earlier this year.

“Approximately 6 percent of the population of Ellijay donated blood at community blood drives in 2018 and 56 first-time donors attended blood drives in the Red Cross’ 2018 fiscal year,” she added. 

The most recent blood drive netted 99 units. 

“From 2003 (till now), there’s been well over 10,000 units (donated here),” Mahan said.

Ellijay Lion Duane Hall, who’s coordinated the club’s blood drives since 2006, said the events typically draw a good cross section of new and repeat donors.

“I find it to be very rewarding and I also enjoy meeting the people I get to meet when I’m there. We have regulars who come every time and there are people who walk in (for the first time) who saw our blood drive signs and said, ‘I’ve given some other place, but I’m going to give here this time.’ They come in and (some of them) become regulars,” Hall said. 

“The highest amount I’ve seen for blood drive here was around 138 units. The first few years we had 100 units every time, but it’s gone down some in the last couple of years. Other places in the community collect blood now where, before, they didn’t,” he added.

Reasons for giving

A list of local Red Cross Milestone Donors that was on display at the Lions Club includes 14 Gilmer County residents who’ve given 10 or more gallons at blood drives held in Ellijay or other parts of the organization’s eastern region.

“That only (includes) what they’ve donated with the American Red Cross in this region. If they’ve donated somewhere like California or donated to another blood bank, we wouldn’t have records of that,” said Mahan. 

As the Nov. 14 blood drive progressed, several local donors shared their reasons for giving.

Tim Mulkey, a Gilmer milestone donor, said the first time he gave blood was in high school. 

The fact that he was able to get out of class for a bit sweetened the prospect then, but Mulkey has made a point to continue giving in the years since. 

His commitment has resulted in the donation of 13 gallons thus far.

“I figured it was one thing I could do that would do some good in the world. I have O negative, which is the universal (blood type),” he said.

Mulkey shares the will to donate blood with his stepdad, Fred McGill. McGill is also a local milestone donor, having given 14 gallons of blood prior to the most recent drive, which he also attended. 

A member of the local American Legion Riders motorcycle club and chaplain for Ellijay’s American Legion Post 82, McGill said he first gave blood after his twin daughters were born prematurely.

“One of my daughters had meningitis when she was born. That was 1975. She was in intensive care and I had to go that day and give blood for her,” he said. 

While giving O negative double red blood cells, avid donor Larry Buckland shared some of the reasons why he returns for the intensive “power red” process that uses a machine to separate and collect two units of red cells, then returns the remaining blood components back to the donor.

“I donate every year, about every eight months. There are people dying overseas and in the military. I have an attractive blood type, being the universal type, and I think it’s a good thing to do,” he said.

Ernie Russell, a professional photographer whose white facial hair and black-rimmed glasses reminds one of iconic fried chicken brandsman Col. Harland Sanders, said he’s also a repeat double red blood cell donor. Only his blood type is O positive.

“I try to donate several times a year. I also gave blood in Cobb County, where I lived for 30 years (before moving here),” he added. 

According to the Red Cross, O positive red blood cells are not universally compatible to all blood types, but they are compatible to any red blood cells that are positive. That means O positive is given to patients more than any other blood type, making it the type most needed by the Red Cross. 

“I had an aunt who, at one time, the Red Cross wanted to know where she was when she went on vacation because her (blood type) was so unusual,” Russell said. “There’s a world of need out there and it’s just what good people ought to do.”

Sometimes prospective blood donors are turned away because of conditions that come to light during an on-site, predonation medical check. 

There can be a silver lining to that, Hall noted.

“I have a friend who I talked into giving blood, but they discovered he had high blood pressure,” he said. “He went to a doctor, who put him on high blood pressure medication. They caught something in the early stages he wouldn’t have known anything about.”

More blood drives scheduled

Red Cross blood drives are typically held the second Thursday of every other month at the local Lions Club, 1729 South Main Street. The next one is scheduled for Jan. 9, from noon-6 p.m.

Before then, another local blood drive will be held at the Gilmer County Library, Mahan noted.

“We’re having a drive there Friday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,” she confirmed. 

Hall said the club’s recurring blood drives would not be possible without the volunteerism of his fellow Ellijay Lions and other supporters.

“The Lions Club is involved in doing things for the community and this is one way we can give back. We put out signs in town and my team sets up everything before the Red Cross arrives. Everybody who’s at the front desk (and helping out at the blood drives) is a volunteer. I couldn’t get along without them. I’m also very appreciative of the storeowners in town who put up our signs in their places of business,” he noted.

The Thanksgiving holiday typically signals a seasonal drop in blood donations, Mahan said.

“Blood and platelet donations decline from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day because people are busy with holiday activities and travel. We encourage donors to share their good health and give patients in need another reason to be thankful this year,” she added.