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SALT LAKE CITY — This week, Utahns are giving blood, sweat and tears — more specifically, money, time and blood.
The Red Cross hosts a Giving Day every year in March, which the company has designated Red Cross month. This 8th annual Giving Day on Wednesday is meant to be an opportunity for local communities to join together to help people who have been impacted by a disaster and need services from the Red Cross.
And, it appears, that Utahns are doing what they always do — showing up.
Students, too, can help
Students at the University of Utah are participating in a blood drive Wednesday to celebrate the inauguration of Taylor Randall as the new president of the university. With an ongoing shortage of blood resources, in Utah and worldwide, it is likely to help.
"The country faces a fragile blood supply, a blood drive will benefit both the community and state," said Randall, "I know the students, faculty, and staff at the U. understand the importance of this cause and will answer the call to give blood."
Randall approached the Red Cross to ask about holding a blood drive as a way to commemorate his inauguration, as well as to highlight the university's "dedication to education and health care."
Heidi Ruster, CEO at the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region, said that the Red Cross applauds the students for their efforts to help grow the short supply.
"A single blood donation can help save more than one life — a teen who was in an accident, a grandfather in need of heart surgery, a friend being treated for cancer, or a child with sickle cell disease," Ruster said.
Donations
On Monday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a $5.1 million donation to the American Red Cross, which church officials said would help the Red Cross carry out its mission.
"We're pleased to contribute over $5 million this year, but our most important contribution comes from our Church members — thousands of them — who have literally rolled up their sleeves to give blood and donate so much of their time," said Gérald Caussé, Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The donation will be used to help the Red Cross meet the demand from hospital patients for blood and convalescent plasma. Specifically, the donation will help the Red Cross's sickle cell initiative, provide new machines and help with the collection and maintenance of blood platelets.
A news release from the church explains that the sickle cell initiative is designed to help find more blood donors who are Black. Donations from Black donors are critical because the majority of people who have sickle cell disease are of African descent and can require frequent transfusions, up to 100 units of blood each year.
Dr. Yvette Miller, executive medical director at the Red Cross, explained that a closely matched blood product is critical for patients with sickle cell disease.
"Many individuals of African descent have distinct markers or structures on their red blood cells that make their donations the most compatible blood to help patients with sickle cell disease," she said. "While most patients can receive blood from a donor of any race or ethnic group, due to the presence of some unique red blood cells antigens shared by people of African descent, donations from individuals who are Black are more likely to provide better health outcomes for those fighting sickle cell disease."
Gail McGovern, CEO and president at the Red Cross, said that a diverse blood supply is critical to the organization's mission — to alleviate suffering in all communities and for all patients, but particularly for patients with sickle cell disease.
"We greatly appreciate the church's extremely generous donation and continued partnership in support of our lifesaving mission," McGovern said.
Every little bit helps
Red Cross officials say that an average of 90 cents for every dollar donated is spent delivering care or comfort to someone in need. Giving Day donations are used to provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other needed assistance for people who find themselves in need.
Up to $200,000 of the donations made on Wednesday's Giving Day will be matched by the Malott Family Foundation.
The Red Cross Giving Day website states that within an average of every eight minutes, a family somewhere in the United States is hit with a disaster like a house fire, flood or something out of their control. The Red Cross seeks to ensure that families have support when this happens.
