Tiffany Wright-Jackson may have only joined the American Red Cross Collections team this past spring, but she is certain she’s in the right place. While new to phlebotomy, she has worked in a variety of health care roles, and she enjoys helping others.

Now a Red Cross phlebotomist, her favorite thing about working at the Philadelphia Blood Donation Center is being part of a community – “being able to help others who help others.”

“I tell the donors we’re a team. If they’re nervous, they can trust me to get them through,” she said. Tiffany also enjoys meeting new people every day and hearing donors’ stories about why they give blood.

Just like phlebotomists support donors through the blood donation process on the Biomedical side of the house, Red Cross disaster workers support those who are impacted by natural disasters and home fires on the Humanitarian side.  

A few months into her Red Cross employment, the unthinkable happened; in the middle of moving into a new apartment, the building caught fire. Tiffany lost almost everything and had nowhere to go.  Her co-workers encouraged her to reach out to the Red Cross for help.

“The Red Cross made me feel like family,” she shared. “I don’t know how I would have gotten through it without them.”

Tiffany was grateful for the blanket and snacks Red Cross disaster volunteers provided immediately after the fire. “Everyone was so helpful, so nice,” she said. They also connected her with Christine, a Red Cross caseworker who helped with documentation that allowed her to extend the lease at her old apartment. Christine also provided resources that helped Tiffany jumpstart her search for a new apartment.

Tiffany says the support enabled her to focus on work and get back to her life. And now when swapping stories with donors, she has her own Red Cross mission moment to share.

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National #BloodCollectorsWeek is Sept. 1-7, 2024. Celebrate those who ensure donors have great experiences and patients get the blood they need. Schedule an appointment to donate blood!

- Written by Alana Mauger