“I didn’t know what to expect when I decided to give blood at a recent American Red Cross blood drive. I’m like a lot of people who dislike the thought of needles and having their blood drawn. Despite my fears, it was an amazing experience.

“The Red Cross staff talked me through the entire process, from the health screening to the actual donation itself. They put me at ease and helped me feel a lot of better about what I was about to do. They were really friendly and made me feel safe and comfortable. Someone even offered me their sunglasses to wear because the sun was shining through the windows. My donor bed was right in the middle of the glare.

“Outside of the finger poke, which for me was the least favorite part, the donation was all very easy. The entire process only took about 20 minutes out of my day. That wasn’t long at all.

“Not only did I have an amazing experience and meet tons of amazing people who make these blood drives possible, my donation could help save a life. That’s what this is all about – helping those who need it. I also got some really yummy snacks.

“I also learned about the Red Cross donor app and all the cool things it does. It’s free by the way. After I downloaded it, I learned my blood type for the first time, and saw my medical stats and my blood’s journey. The app makes it really easy to schedule an appointment, which now will be a common practice of mine.”