May 2, 2004

Willow Glen supports Stanford Blood Bank

By Carol Rosen
Editor

Close to 50 people joined Judy Anderson and me on April 24 to give back to our community. The event also involved Washington Mutual Bank and Stanford University Hospital Blood Bank.

Sounds somewhat confusing, eh? Four times a year Anderson—a realtor from Ventura Barnett Properties in Almaden who lives in Willow Glen—sponsors the blood bank in the parking lot of Washington Mutual. It’s her service to the community.

“I had a friend that did it in Los Gatos and decided that I could do the same for the community I live in, and focus on,” Anderson said. “No one was doing this before, and I feel it is a deserving need. It’s a worthy cause.”

Every four months Anderson walks the streets of Willow Glen and passes out literature announcing the blood drive. In April, she passed out 500 pieces. Washington Mutual Bank donates its parking lot after the bank closes and the blood bank personnel work from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The blood mobile will be back in August.

When Anderson asked the Willow Glen Times for some publicity, I readily agreed and decided that it was time for me to give something back to my community. However, I was a bit scared because I had never donated blood before. Actually, it was quite easy, painless and fun. And, the nurse/technicians are great!

First, they take your medical history. To ensure they can use the blood, they ask a lot of questions and do a finger prick to make sure you aren’t anemic. Then it’s on to taking the blood, which lasts less than 15 minutes. Then comes the good part. When you’ve finished, they have cookies, pretzels and yummy ice cream to go with orange juice and water. You fill your tummy for 15 minutes and go on your merry way.

In fact, the entire process took less than an hour. And, it feels really good to know you are helping three to five people. In about three weeks, according to Anderson, donors receive a notice telling how many lives they helped to save.

So, remember to look for a notice in August about the next blood drive both for your heart and your tummy.