By Red Cross volunteer Stephanie Babyak

August 2026 marked a major milestone for Kristi Giles – her 70th blood donation.

Currently, Kristi serves as senior volunteer engagement specialist for the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake (NCGC) Region Red Cross. As a Red Crosser, Kristi knows the importance of giving life-saving blood to help trauma victims, cancer patients, and others in a medical emergency. But Kristi's blood donation story began years ago.  

Kristi's parents had both been blood donors. Then when one of the sororities on her college campus was sponsoring a blood drive, a group of her friends decided that this was an easy way to do something good for others. Kristi decided to go along with them and has been a regular blood donor ever since.

Kristi usually donates at the fixed donor site in Columbia, Maryland, near her home in Ellicott City.

"I like going to my home fixed site, but I also like going out to meet new people in different places. When I deployed in Los Angeles [with Red Cross disaster relief to help people impacted by wildfires], I donated out there," she explains.

Everyday obstacles like busy schedules and vacations are among the reasons that prevent people from making and keeping appointments to donate blood. However, Kristi says the best way to become a regular blood donor is to prioritize donating.

"For me, it's worth it. It's just an hour of my time. I feel like a rock star when I donate," she says.

Kristi uses the Red Cross blood donation app to find a donation center and schedule an appointment. The app makes scheduling and rescheduling easy and convenient. "It was exciting to learn that my donation was sent out to the hospital to help patients in need. I appreciate how the app also tracks my blood donation's journey. My blood went to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore," Kristi said.

The app lets donors know when they are eligible to give again and can even suggest a recommended donation appointment.

Someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds. The Red Cross is the primary provider to about 60 hospitals in the DMV region. Because blood has a shelf life, it can't be stockpiled. The only way to ensure patients have the blood they need in an emergency is through volunteer donors who step up.

Schedule a blood donation today and get that "rock star" feeling, just like Kristi Giles.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities can be found by entering your ZIP code at RedCrossBlood.org or downloading the Red Cross blood donor app.