Arrowhead Pharmacy, partnering with the Cook County Senior Center, had a record-breaking turnout at their last blood drive. They received the “100 Club” award for the attendance that day. Presenting the award was Michele Keil of Memorial Blood Center. (L-R) Terri Goettl, Keil, Chris Goettl.
Each year the Memorial Blood Center recognizes the organizations or businesses that are the best at getting people to donate blood. Groups that get 100 units of blood receive the “100 Club Award.” Arrowhead Pharmacy in Grand Marais became a member of this club at the last blood drive it sponsored—meeting and exceeding the 100 donor level in just one day!
Chris Goettl of Arrowhead Pharmacy said the response was amazing. Goettl and his wife Terri and pharmacy staff recruit and schedule donors for the Memorial Blood Center, teaming up with the Grand Marais Senior Center, where the bloodmobile sets up.
Goettl was delighted to learn that the Grand Marais blood drive was the largest ever. “To get the award, you have to have 100 units donated in a year. We got 101 in one day,” he said.
“It’s just another sign of how Grand Marais is ‘America’s Coolest Small Town,’” said Goettl.
Michele Keil of Memorial Blood Center said, “The Grand Marais Community goes above and beyond to ensure a safe and adequate supply of blood for local patients. Every two seconds someone needs blood and one out of every three people will need blood in their lifetime. We need volunteer blood donors every day to ensure the supply remains stable. Summer time is a particularly hard time for us to maintain an adequate supply. This is our largest community blood drive. A big thank you to the Arrowhead Pharmacy, the Senior Center, and the Grand Marais Community for your generosity!”
Goettl and his team are gearing up for another successful blood drive on Wednesday, July 20 from 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. On June 28, Goettl said without any promotion the pharmacy already had 18 donors signed up.
Walk-ins are welcome. Last year the pharmacy had 85 people scheduled before Memorial Blood Center arrived and topped 100 with last minute donors.
However, Goettl encourages potential donors to call (218) 387- 1133 or stop by Arrowhead Pharmacy to schedule an appointment. It only takes a few minutes, said Goettl and the staff is “standing by.”
“There’s a little competition going on. We ask each other, ‘how many people have you signed up today?’”
Goettl acknowledges that it is some extra work to sponsor a blood drive, but he said, “It is a worthy cause. You really don’t know when you or someone you love might need blood.”
A number of other blood drives have also been scheduled for Cook and Lake counties in the coming weeks. The dates include: July 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Northshore Mining building in Silver Bay.
Another will be held July 19 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Zoar Lutheran Church in Tofte. To schedule a donation at that site, call Polly Erickson at (218) 663- 7398.
On July 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Memorial Blood Center will be at Grand Portage Health Services on Upper Road.
Those who donate with Memorial Blood Centers in July are entered for a chance to win a fishing adventure for two. The trip includes a three-night Hyatt stay, airfare, and a freshwater fishing excursion. Plus, there will be weekly drawings through July for eight $50 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift cards.
Memorial Blood Centers has been saving lives for over 65 years as an independent nonprofit supplying life-saving blood to area hospitals and other partners throughout the U.S. Operating 10 donor centers and conducting hundreds of blood drives each month. Memorial Blood Centers also provides comprehensive testing and expert technical services as a national leader in transfusion medicine.
For more information, call 1-888-GIVE-BLD (1-888-448-3253).
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