In a few weeks, hopefully hundreds of helpful souls will descend upon Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack to participate in the 36th annual Ohio Valley Media Blood Donor Day, put on by the American Red Cross.
Traditionally one of the Red Cross’ biggest events in the tri-state area, it’s also one of its most crucial.
Even without COVID, donor participation takes a dip around the holiday season and picks back up in January. The need for blood? No such break for festivities. It’s ever-present.
“We don’t want to experience the infrequency of donors at this time because the need for blood never takes a holiday,” said Sharon Kesselring, the executive director of the Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley region. “We need to make sure we are collecting as much as always, and this year, it’s especially challenging.”
Kesselring noted that a number of incentives are being implemented at drives across the country to help entice donors out of their warm homes and to donate a unit.
From Amazon gift cards to t-shirts, different options are being made available. For Media vaDonor Day, which is set for January 24 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., that incentive is a long-sleeved Red Cross t-shirt, while supplies last.
In addition, anyone who donates a unit of blood during the month of January nationally will be entered into a drawing for a trip for two to the Super Bowl in Los Angeles in February. That trip will cover travel costs, three nights lodging, plus $500 in spending money via a gift card.
“We do like to incentivize our donors when we’re able, especially during holiday time,” Kesselring noted.
That’s another reason Kesselring is glad the drive is back at Wheeling Island.
Because of COVID, last year’s Media Blood Donor Day was shifted to a two-day event at Vance Presbyterian Church in the Woodsdale section of Wheeling. Kesselring was thankful to the impromptu gracious hosts and was more than pleased with the turnout, which fell only a few units short of reaching the goal.
But given the size of the event, it’s much easier to house it at the casino on one day than cram it into less space, spread out across two days.
“We are happy to be back at the casino,” Kesselring said. “It worked out okay for us last year, especially during the midst of the pandemic. We came very close to reaching the goal, so we were happy with the donors who came out.
“But we’re setting our goal of 164 units for this time.”
Sign Up Ahead
Kesselring encourages those who want to participate to sign-up ahead of time online at the Red Cross website, or by downloading the Red Cross app.
Signing up beforehand is a benefit in a number of ways.
First, it gives the Red Cross workers an idea of how many people are coming, along with the ability to spread out appointments so donors aren’t waiting around forever, along with having time for a large number of walk-ins that frequent this particular drive.
It also helps account for social distancing and the safety of both the donors and the staff assisting the drive.
“It also helps, for instance, if the drive has to be canceled, or the hours changed, you will receive an alert,” Kesselring said. “At this time, we are requesting that people make an appointment. We need to be cognizant of the COVID situation, and we have to provide a safe environment for both the donors and the staff.
“That’s another reason we are glad to be back at the Island because of the size of the facility.”
Kesselring noted the anticipated number of walk-ins and that the staff is doing its best to honor the appointments by those who schedule ahead of time so that they aren’t waiting around to donate. With the anticipated turnout, patience will be paramount for those desiring to walk up and donate.
