By Alex Keilty

Meet Alvin Ehiriodo, American Red Cross blood donor, former volunteer and current employee. When it comes to the Red Cross, Alvin has done it all!

“I believe in the mission [of saving lives],” Alvin says of his commitment to the Red Cross. “I want to work for an organization that cares about the work they do.”

When Alvin signed up to be a Red Cross blood drive volunteer his supervisor suggested he try donating blood too. So he became a Blood Donor Ambassador and blood donor at the same time. Both experiences were positive; so much so that he joined the Red Cross as a phlebotomist.

A phlebotomist takes blood from donors. One of his favorite parts of the job is getting to know the regular blood donors.

“I am a chatterbox…I get to hear their stories about why they started,” he says. He builds relationships with them and keeps up to date on their lives. “We have time to interact,” he says.

The Red Cross encourages donors to give blood or platelets during the winter, as a way to the blood supply from the ongoing impact of severe weather and wildfires. Donors of all blood types – particularly type O negative blood donors and those giving platelets – are needed to help save lives during these months.

Where it is safe to do so, donors are asked to book a time to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Thank you, Alvin for all you do for our blood, platelets and plasma donors at the Fremont-Newark Red Cross Blood Donation Center!