Students pump out the pints

During this year’s blood drive, 171 pints of blood were given meaning up to 513 lives could be saved through donations by GCSU faculty, staff and students.

The Dr. John Sallstrom Blood Drive was held Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 and Paul Sedor, the assistant director of The GIVE Center, along with many GIVE Center volunteers and Red Cross nurses opened the doors to Magnolia Ballroom welcoming GCSU faculty, staff and students to donate blood in hopes to change lives.

Time slots were set up by appointment through e-donor, an online sign-up service from the American Red Cross. Red Cross nurses from the Macon ARC office provided their service by taking blood, but also by providing snacks and juices to help prevent any complications post extraction.

Blood is divided into three categories: plasma, platelets and red cells. Each of these categories can do a specific job in the healing process. The two-day goal for The GIVE Center was 150 pints, 60 the first day and 90 the second day. Last year’s drive expected a total of 180 pints; however, short staffing this year made for a smaller prediction. On day one, 62 pints were donated and day two produced 109 pints.

Familiar with the satisfaction of giving and helping, The GIVE Center volunteers were in full support. At least four volunteers were at the drive at all times and the drive saw 15 to 20 different volunteers during both days.

“You get the good feeling by helping someone,” said sophomore psychology major Raisa Martinez, office manager of The GIVE Center, “but not just helping, giving blood is saving a life.”

Rachel Cauthen | gcsunade.com

Junior Christin Sams gives blood Wednesday, Nov. 3 in Magnolia Ballroom. For each pint donated, up to three lives can be saved. The total amount raised in the November drive was 171 pints, exceeding their goals by 21 pints

Walking in Magnolia Ballroom first for Tuesday’s drive was graduate student Laura Turner. Turner has been giving blood since early high school and donates about six times a year.

“I had a professor of biology who gave all the time and he encouraged me,” said Turner. “So many people need it and it’s free for me to give.”

In high school Sedor donated numerous times through a drive at his church. In his freshman year at GCSU, Sedor gave at the first drive and ended up staying and helping for the day.

By Sedor’s sophomore year, he took over as the blood drive coordinator.

“(Blood is) the one thing that whether you’re hurt, or in a serious accident you need,” said Sedor. “There’s no magic cure, you have to have it.”

During Sedor’s first year with The GIVE Center, they held three drives per year, with more than 30 people in attendance. Now, in 2010, The GIVE Center does four two-day drives. The first of this year was held in August and two more are going to take place in February and April of this upcoming spring.

The drive is named after retired GCSU Vice President John Sallstrom. Sallstrom was often referred to as the “public face of Georgia College” and held many titles during his 30 years of service to the university. He served as assistant vice president for academic administration, associate vice president for academic administration and associate vice president for academic success. After Sallstrom’s friend, Robert G. Hoke, a previous dean, was diagnosed with leukemia, Sallstrom began donating blood. He gave for close to 20 years.

Later, Sallstrom was also diagnosed with leukemia and was forced to stop donating. During many drives in the past, Sallstrom has made an appearance and thanked others for donating at his drive.

Although sightings of Sallstrom at his blood drives are more rare in his later years, no motivation was lost. Still going strong is the tradition of helping people. Many hearts went out in hopes to keep a few more beating.

Posted by Taylor Lamb on Nov 5 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.