{"id":9273,"date":"2025-10-16T23:45:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T06:45:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/underwoodcommunity.org\/wp-ucc\/?p=9273"},"modified":"2025-10-21T08:53:28","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T15:53:28","slug":"why-i-donate-underwood-blood-drives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/underwoodcommunity.org\/wp-ucc\/why-i-donate-underwood-blood-drives\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Donate: Donors Reveal Why Giving Blood Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div><\/span>

Community Voices: Why I Donate Blood<\/h1><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>

Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood or platelets. Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors, so the need for donors is ongoing and ever-present. If you’ve been considering starting a donation routine, now is a great time to schedule your first appointment. Underwood hosts four blood drives a year at the Community Center and relies on a team of volunteers and donors to make each drive as successful as the last. What keeps our local donors coming back? Read below in their own words. <\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>

Lisa Brown<\/h1><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>

“My mother was a lifelong O-positive blood donor, a universal blood type that can be used for many blood needs. She also shared how rewarding it was to donate blood to help save lives. In 2004, she received a \u201cChampion for Life\u201d award from the American Red Cross. When I found out she could no longer donate, I was inspired to follow in her footsteps. I began donating blood regularly and learned that my blood type was also Universal O Positive! It\u2019s so easy to give, especially knowing how much my small gesture means to others and how it helps to save lives.<\/p>\n

The next step in my journey was connecting with the American Red Cross to begin hosting blood drives in Underwood. I started in June 2019 and have hosted 31 Blood Drives, collected 1,270 pints of blood, and helped save over 3,800 lives, thanks to all of the Underwood Community and Gorge donors for Giving Life to those in need! The drives couldn’t run smoothly without our volunteers. Shout out to everyone who has volunteered their time, including Sue Gross, Kathy and Ed LaMotte, Lynne Pendleton, Karen Newell, Luci Walker, Pam Copley, the late Ross Bluestone, and others. Community support for our blood drives has been amazing!”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>

Bob Wittenberg<\/h1><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

“Twelve years ago, we nearly lost a family member. He was undergoing a routine \u2018discectomy\u2019 to relieve pain from a ruptured disk in his spine. The surgeon simply cut too deep and nicked a major artery near the aorta, causing a big leak \u2013 bleeding.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, rather than having this surgery at the spinal clinic downtown, the insurance provider required the surgery to be done in a hospital with a blood supply. Had this happened at the spinal clinic, my family member would have bled out (died) on the way to the hospital. I don\u2019t remember exactly, but 23 or 24 units of blood and blood products later, the leak was found and repaired. My family member was saved.<\/p>\n

A supply of blood and blood products is needed and used every single day. I could be the next person to need replacement blood. A friend or another loved one may be the next person who needs blood. This is why I give every chance I get.”<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/i><\/div>

GET INVOLVED!<\/h2><\/a><\/div>
<\/div>
\n

Visit the Community Event Calendar<\/a> to see when upcoming local blood drives are scheduled for Underwood, or visit the American Red Cross website to find additional drives taking place near you.<\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div>Find a Blood Drive near You<\/a>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>

Subscribe to Underwood News<\/h2><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Stay current on events, information, resources, and community happenings with our community newsletter. We\u2019ll deliver news from the UPRD and Friends of Underwood once a month and occasionally send event updates and notices, too. You can opt-out anytime, and we\u2019ll never sell or share your information with others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

SIGN UP HERE<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div><\/div><\/span>

Upcoming Events<\/h2><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/div>

Community Open Gym<\/a><\/h2>

June 28 @ 3:00 pm<\/span> - 4:00 pm<\/span><\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Looking for more community events?
\nVIEW OUR EVENT CALENDAR<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/span>

Community Updates<\/h2><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>