When the Versiti BloodCenter of Wisconsin announced a critical need for blood to help area hospitals, including Tomah Health, Carol Chambers said she was more than willing to help the cause.
The Oakdale resident was among the more than 80 people who turned out for drive at Tomah High School March 26.
“I wanted to help and felt this was the best way I could take part,” said Chambers, who has been donating blood for about 15 years.
The drive originally was scheduled at Tomah Health but moved to the Tomah High School after a large number of people signed up to help meet a critical need for blood due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the safety of everyone involved, the high school was a great alternative for our drive and greatly appreciate the Tomah School District for use of the building,” Tomah Health marketing & public relations director Eric Prise said. “We greatly appreciated the support of everyone who stepped forward to donate, and more importantly those who wanted to donate and may have been rescheduled. ”Prise said the drive accounted for 188 blood products, which surpassed a normal blood drive.
He said BloodCenter officials contacted original donors when nearly 150 signed up for the March 26 drive. “BloodCenter account representative Emalea Cogdill did an amazing job communicating with as many donors as she could to schedule the drive,” Prise said.
Prise said the hospital’s next drive is scheduled May 28. In the meantime, interested donors can register to donate blood at the Versiti Donor Center at 1800 Jackson Street in LaCrosse using the online registration site CLICK HERE.
“Versiti is an important partner for Tomah Health and 49 other hospitals throughout the state so we look forward to future community support,” Prise added. Versiti BloodCenter of Wisconsin supplies 100% of blood used at Tomah Heath.
*Special thanks to the Tomah Culver’s for providing a coupon for a FREE pint of frozen custard for everyone who attempted to donate blood as part of Culver’s “Give a Pint / Get a Pint” program!