Sandy Dyer (on left), of registration for Central Illinois Community Blood Center, maintains the lists of registered donors and stays in touch with sponsors by attending blood drives to support the volunteers. She is Karen Booher's main contact at CICBC.

Blood drive events come from the heart [June 07, 2011]  When donors walk into a blood drive facility, they see an organized site with professionals and volunteers positioned at work stations, ready to complete their tasks. Point A leads to Point B, and the process runs like clockwork. But how does it become such a well-oiled machine? Lots and lots of people.

Organizations, schools and churches can sponsor a blood drive, which means the group involved is responsible for committing manpower to the day's activities. Promotion efforts and advertising announce the date and location. On the designated day, donors stop at the registration desk, the check-in and, after the actual donation procedure, the canteen. Each station needs volunteer workers and supplies.

Medical professionals draw blood and care for the donors, and their expertise and know-how provide the service that collects the lifesaving blood. Without them, good intentions would be moot. But without volunteers and sponsors, the collection agency would need a team of organizers, and it would be a daunting task. Sponsors and liaisons in each community and the medical professionals who travel to events come together to create the best experience possible for the donors, who give of themselves for those in need. And they are the reason for everyone to be there.

Every June the First Presbyterian Church of Lincoln sponsors a blood drive at the Masonic Temple. Monday was the date for this year's event. The board of deacons distributed posters and other advertising for the event and baked cookies that were some of the items offered to donors. Sandwiches were purchased by the church from Vintage Fare. Six or seven church members -- a group of the ladies -- made sure the canteen was ready for donors throughout the day.

The First Presbyterian Church had sponsored a special blood drive at the church last October. Church member and blood drive volunteer Rhoda Holland explained the circumstances behind the drive.

"Originally, we planned the blood drive in October to help Joyce Kinzie," Holland explained. "She had been a good community volunteer for years and had helped at the church when we had events. When she became ill and then needed our help, we thought a blood drive would benefit her. But she died two weeks before our scheduled blood drive, so instead of having it for her, we held it in her memory. The response was terrific. Even though she could not benefit from the donations, there were others who would have received the blood we collected."

The October 2010 event attracted 78 possible donors and resulted in 66 units of blood for distribution.

A person who has become the representative for local blood drives is Karen Booher. She is the liaison between the Central Illinois Community Blood Center and Lincoln Kiwanis and also steps in to assist when needed to coordinate the activity. She oversaw the setup and cleanup for the blood drive on Monday.

"My husband (Mike) belongs to Kiwanis, and a few years ago he said they should be a sponsor for a blood drive once a month, and here I am," Karen explained. "I'm retired now and have the time. When I started doing this, probably five or six years ago, we were using the old paramedic building.

"This is a good cause," she continued. "The CICBC has a good group of people to work with. We get things done, and the main purpose is to collect as much blood as possible to help the people at the hospitals. CICBC is the only blood source for Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. People are helping their own community when they donate. The next time there is a great need, it could be someone you know -- or you."

Booher was always aware of blood donations, due to her father-in-law's commitment to being a blood donor and her husband being a faithful donor for several years. Because of prescription medication, she can no longer donate blood herself, but she was previously a regular donor with several units to her credit.

She receives information from the CICBC and shares details with the sponsoring organization. They receive a list of supplies they will need and the number of preregistered donors so they have a ballpark figure of what to plan for, although walk-ins are always welcome.

A group of prisoners from Logan Correctional Center arrives at the Masonic Temple early in the morning to clear tables and chairs from the room. After the event is over, they will return to put the room back in order.

"If someone has ever needed blood or knows someone who has needed blood, they know how important it is to have that supply available. This is where the supply comes from," Booher said as her hand swept across the room. "The donors are the source, and the medical staff and volunteers make it happen. It is as simple as that."

[By MARLA BLAIR]