Gayle Richards, Donor Representative for Bloodworks NW was our special speaker on Friday, March 8th. Gayle's territory for Bloodworks NW covers NE Snohomish County, South Skagit County and Whidbey Island. She has been at the blood center for 35 years. It all started 35 years ago with Sno-Isle Community Blood Bank in 1984 and in 1991 they merged with Puget Sound Blood Center and in 2015, they changed the name to Bloodworks NW.
Donor recruitment for Gayle started the week before September 11, 2001. Each day 900 pints of blood are needed in Western Washington and Portland, Oregon. There has been lots of research and testing to assure adequate blood supply. Did you know that one pint of blood saves three lives. Some of the blood goes to cancer patients.
She has worked with a Rotary Club on Whidbey Island on a blood drive that has increased the blood donations in that area. Dave Duskin, Assistant District Governor asked if our Rotary Club would be interested in a blood drive? Millenniums donate the least amount of blood according to Gayle. Bloodworks NW has a mobile bus with four beds and a mini-bus with three beds. Usually a blood drive starts at 7 am and goes to 7 pm.
Tracy acknowledged her work in a blood lab from 1982 to 1998. Gayle works with a number of churches, businesses and hospitals in donor recruitment. Community drives are the best functions for her. Maintaining effective relationships with various donor groups is absolutely key to her role as the Donor Recruitment Representative.
For more information, you can go to their website at www.bloodworksnw.org for more information.