If 20 minutes of your time and one pint of blood could save your sibling's life, would you give it?
Local State Farm agent Stephanie Fagerstrom found herself thanking 14 anonymous people who each donated a pint of blood when her brother, Paul, suffered a nearly fatal car accident and needed a complete blood transfusion to save his life 26 years ago. "Had people not given blood, he may not of survived," Fagerstrom said.
Since then, Fagerstrom has made a commitment to give blood every chance she gets, and the Coweta Community Foundation's Big Give blood and food drive on Tuesday will be no exception.
"It's really important to give because you never know when it's needed," she continued. "[Big Give] is a team effort and will be successful if people support it. It's a small way to give back. There is no substitute. Blood can only come from us."
According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and less than 38 percent of the population is eligible to give it. This year, donations have dropped by 11 percent since January in the southeastern region. There is a particular need for blood types B and O.
Fagerstrom, who coordinated several other drives while living in Cumming, Ga., encourages people of all ages to come donate, meet other people whose stories will touch the heart and experience the sense of pride one gets from saving a life.
For those who are squeamish, donating can help conquer a fear of needles or blood. It's as simple as telling a Red Cross clinician who will find the best person to be "delicate" during the process, said Fagerstrom.
"Just try it one time. The joy and personal satisfaction you receive make it worthwhile," she said.
Donating blood is a simple, four-step process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments. The American Red Cross recommends donors hydrate with plenty of fluids, eat a good healthy breakfast, wear comfortable clothing and bring an ID and list of medications before donating blood. Maintaining a healthy iron level by eating iron-rich foods is also helpful in the weeks leading up to donation. Blood may be donated every 56 days.
The Big Give will be held at The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts at 1523 Lower Fayetteville Road in Newnan from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointment times for blood donation are available.
Non-perishable food items are also being collected to benefit Coweta's Backpack Buddies program. Backpack Buddies serves economically disadvantaged children in Coweta's school system by providing them with nutritious weekend meals that they would otherwise go without. Items like applesauce cups, granola bars, pop-top ravioli and Vienna sausages, peanut butter/cheese crackers, juice boxes, protein bars, beef jerky and individual cereal boxes are being collected.
Those donating blood can sign up online in advance to be entered in a state-wide drawing for two Delta airline tickets.
In addition, the first 50 blood donors who sign up online will also be entered in a drawing for a $50 Visa gift card.
To sign up online, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code "cowetacf." On the day of the event, the first 25 people to bring food items for Backpack Buddies will be entered in a drawing for a $50 Visa gift card.
For more information on the Big Give, contact Ginger Jackson-Queener at 770-296-3875.
To date, Fagerstrom's brother is doing well, but the accident altered his life significantly. "Not one day goes by without thinking what could have been," she said. "I give because he can't. Giving blood shows appreciation for our lives and good health. There's no cost and it's an altruistic, genuine expression of compassion."
