December 18, 2023
By Dorothy Evans
On December 6, the American Red Cross held their quarterly blood drive in Weiser’s Vendome Events Center. The 83 units collected will have a big impact since one donation can save three lives.
Many of our donors have a long history of donating blood but none as impressive as Lila Harper. In addition to donating blood, Lila worked at the blood drives for 56 years. Lila volunteered each quarter, starting as a typist and later as the blood drive coordinator. She once told me that volunteering enriches your life.
Now a nonagenarian, Lila has not worked the drive in several years but more importantly, she still continues to donate blood. To date, Lila has donated 206 pints, equating to 25.75 gallons. To put that into perspective, it takes an average of 10 gallons of paint to cover the exterior of a 2,500 square foot house. Lila could paint 2-1/2 houses with her donations. Better yet, since one donation can save three lives, Lila’s 206 donations might have saved 618 lives. A true hero!
All our donors are special and appreciated. Those giving permission to print their name are: Rick Haynes, Sabrina Young, Fred Haun, Harry Soulen, Johnny Biddinger, Chris McCord, Mary Smith, Daryn Young, Trisha Thomson, Cindy Duncan, Jim Hardenbrook, Michael Hartnett, Wil Overgaard, Mary Walker, Ian Ross, Larry Lee, Ed Roukema, Tara Nordgren, Colleen Edwards, Lucy Ross, Veronica Vasquez, Pat Sullivan, Megan Overgaard, Mari Bionaz, Jhonna Eldridge, Danielle Marvin, Steve Cooper, Monica Odoms, Sandy Cooper, Julie Derr, Rejeana Goolsby, Emily Jones, Sherry Young, Bob Barber, Diane Higgins, Mary Dimmitt, Lupita Rodriguez, Darin Walker, Bryant Walker, Karen Shannon, Jan Mullins, Kyla Dickerson, Bruce Nagasaka, Mark Christensen, Connie Hagan, Joe Milner, Kerra Kress, Pamela Stampfli, Barbara Huck, Jana Hill, Rhonda Hirata, Patti Hartnett, Anne Oglevie, Darrell Zinn, Gennie Christopherson, Alishia Parker, Lorrie Dewyar, Ken Salzsieder, Ron Lancaster, Charles Winegardner, Paul Malek, Julie Chadwick, Tina Frei, Brian Johnson, Jordan Barrett, Bruce Winegar, Trent Winegar, Sarah Bruce, Molly Jensen, Linda McLaughlin, Lila Harper and Suzanna Hubele.
The blood drive could not happen without the help of the volunteers. Blood drive chairman, Alex Chavarria, pulled it all together by lining up and calling donors. Coordinator Dorothy Evans worked the registration table during the drive and enters future appointments into the database after the drive. Pat West helped at the registration table. Mary Walker, Jan Mullins, Lynn Butler, Vi Peterson, Judi Warden and Vickie Thomas of Nu Masters sorority prepared sandwiches for the donors and Jan Mullins provided a delicious taco soup for the workers and volunteers. For the August drive, I mistakenly gave credit to Vickie Thomas for cooking the meal but it should have been Jan Mullins. My apologies. Nu Masters is a member of the Beta Sigma Phi City Council who funds the purchase of the food. We are also grateful to MTE for their generous contribution that pays for supplies and WIFI.
Weiser’s next quarterly blood drive will be held in the Vendome Events Center on Wednesday, March 6, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please call Alex Chavarria at 208-602-7138 or Dorothy Evans at 208-549-5589 to schedule an appointment or go on the American Red Cross website to reserve your time slot. Your blood could save a life. There’s no better way to spend an hour of your time.
