For Susan Ottinger, the best way to celebrate your birthday is by giving back at a Red Cross blood drive! Just days before her 60th birthday on June 29, Susan helped host a blood drive at the Hussey-Mayfield Public Library in Whitestown. It was an exciting way to celebrate her milestone birthday, but it’s not the first time she’s hosted a birthday blood drive.
“I was going to collect 50 units for my 50th birthday, and I think I got 63 that year,” said Susan.
Susan has been a Blood Program Leader (BPL) for 10 years and helps serve as a connection between the community and the Red Cross by recruiting blood donors to help save lives. She first joined our mission because she felt there was a need for more blood drives in her community.
“I lived in Zionsville at the time, and I live in Whitestown now,” said Susan. “These are big communities and we can support a blood drive every couple of months, but they weren’t being hosted, so I kind of filled the gap.”
Susan has been a regular blood donor for many years. As a BPL, she has helped host 60 blood drives, collecting more than 2,185 units of lifesaving blood.
“It accrues gradually, then all the sudden you look at the numbers and you’re like, ‘Wow,” said Susan. “Keep doing the next right thing, one day at a time, and those things add up.”
When she’s not at a Red Cross blood drive, Susan is an elementary school librarian. She proudly wears her Red Cross blood donor pins on her lanyard at school, sparking conversations with young students and inspiring them to consider giving blood one day.
“The kids are like, ‘What’s that,” and I tell them, ‘I give blood,” said Susan. “They’re like, ‘You give blood? What does that mean?”
Susan says donating blood or volunteering as a blood program leader is a great way to help patients in need and support her local community.
“It’s really easy for me. This is a way I can give back to my community and make a difference,” said Susan.
If you’re interested in donating blood, please visit RedCrossBlood.org to find an appointment near you. If you’re interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities, please visit RedCross.org/volunteer.
Written by Janie Bohlmann, regional communications manager.
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