Pittsboro, NC – On April 17, 2024, Chatham County employees and residents rolled up their sleeves to give the gift of life at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro. Thirty-two lifesaving blood donations were collected to help hospital patients in need. The Chatham County Employee Blood Drive is held every April with the American Red Cross.
April is National Volunteer Month, and the Red Cross is celebrating the millions of people who volunteer to give blood, platelets, and plasma throughout the year. Donors of all blood types are needed now to keep the blood supply strong enough to support critical patient care this spring.
The Red Cross depends on volunteer donors to collect about 12,000 blood donations and nearly 3,000 platelet donations every day. Volunteer donors like Chatham County employee Jessica Salgado, who donated for the second time at the drive.
Jessica Salgado and Catherine Deininger were among the thirty-two blood donors at the Chatham Ag Center.
“My co-workers in the Register of Deeds office are regular blood donors, and they have been great about encouraging me to donate,” said Salgado. “The Red Cross staff are friendly, and it’s a simple process. I’m glad to be contributing in a good way.”
Donated blood has a limited shelf life, so supplies must be continuously replenished to ensure sufficient inventory of blood products. With no substitute for blood and no way to manufacture it, volunteer donors are essential for hospital patients in need of transfusions. Patients need blood for a variety of reasons including individuals who have experienced trauma, people fighting cancers and those with chronic illnesses like sickle cell disease.
“I expect at some point either I or someone I know will or has needed to receive blood,” said Chatham County resident and blood donor Catherine Deininger. “Many people are unable to donate, but I am able to, so I do.”
In addition to donors, the Red Cross needs individuals to volunteer at blood drives. Blood Donor Ambassadors engage donors by greeting, registering, answering questions, providing information, and supporting them through the recovery process at the refreshments table. The special attention these volunteers provide helps create a favorable impression that encourages ongoing donor support.
Information about blood donation and volunteer opportunities can be found by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org, or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).