As they have for almost 20 years, the members of the Plumas District Hospital Volunteers group are sponsoring next week’s blood drive, which will take place Tuesday, June 4, from noon to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, June 5, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Donors are invited to walk in either of those two days and donate a pint of blood at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the corner of Bucks Lake Road and Bellamy Lane just west of the hospital.
“We are so fortunate to have the PDH Volunteers working the check-in desk next week,” says local drive coordinator Elizabeth Smailes. “This amazing group has sponsored the June drive too many years to count; they always come through for us.”
When asked why the PDH Volunteers have been so reliable in sponsoring the June drive each year, current president Gloria Boland said, “We’re volunteers at heart.” Since its inception in 1979, the group has donated over $800,000 to hospital projects, primarily through its operation of the Bargain Boutique thrift store in Quincy.
Says Boland, “We’ve refurbished two hospital rooms and the hospital lobby and also donated funds to buy a mammogram imager far superior to the old one. We also funded the purchase of an LED machine called Trudy, which looks a bit like the android from ‘Star Wars,’ R2-D2, and is used to sterilize hospital rooms. Plus during the COVID pandemic, our funding bought a COVID testing machine that’s been used for other testing purposes since the pandemic ended.”
Given its association with the local hospital, the PDH Volunteers group says sponsoring the Vitalant blood drives is a natural. Boland reports that at the group’s recent meeting she had no trouble signing up members who will work the check-in desk next week. “We’re still signing up members to bake cookies,” she adds, so donors will, as always, be treated to an array of treats after they give blood.
Thanks to the efforts of volunteer Nance Reed, virtually all the appointment slots are filled for next week, but organizers don’t want that to stop walk-in donors. Donors without appointments are encouraged on both days because sometimes people can’t make it to the drive, or they fall ill and can’t donate blood.
“Come one, come all,” says Smailes. “With or without an appointment, we’ll fit you in!”
Donors are reminded to always eat a solid meal before donating blood, and remember to to bring their photo ID. For additional information, call Smailes at 530-289-6511.
Information provided by Plumas District Hospital Volunteers
