January 25, 2025 - Kiersten Bliss
A month after the season of giving, several residents of El Dorado County had more to give. They donated up to two hours of their weekend by donating blood at the Just Serve Blood Drive on Saturday, January 25 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cameron Park, CA. Carol Barfuss, Assistant Communications Director of the El Dorado Stake, worked closely with Vitalant's area account manager, in planning and executing a successful blood drive. Sign-ups and links were posted on several websites and apps weeks before, that included Vitalant's search page of local blood drives.
During the course of four hours, 34 pints of blood were collected that exceeded Vitalant’s expectations. Typical blood drives collect 24 pints of blood. About one-third of the donors were walk-ins who had seen the blood drive advertised online. Donors with reservations were spread out evenly throughout the day, but it there was always room for walk-ins. Donors ranged from 3 gallon+ regular donors to five first-time blood donors, and from teenagers to people in their 80s. One donor even drove all the way from Cool, CA to donate life-saving blood.
Among the first time donors was seventeen-year-old Kelly Jones who came with her mother, Candace. “My sister-in-law [Kelly’s aunt] went through over a hundred blood donations when she was battling leukemia, “Candace explained, “so Kelly was determined to come donate blood today.” Kelly knew the importance that one donation can make and how each one played a pivotal role in helping her aunt fight cancer. Blood donations really do save lives.
Despite staying busy with greeting and checking people in and helping all around, Carol Barfuss was one of the last donors of the day. Her daughter Eloise, though too young to donate, was there for moral support. Mrs. Barfuss did a fantastic job keeping everything running smoothly. She, along with the rest of the El Dorado Stake Communications team, are already making plans to host their next blood drive.