Story and Photos by Marvin Koch, American Red Cross volunteer 

It all starts with a simple gesture of wanting to give back to your community. Just ask David Pilkinton, Kyle Piccirilli, and Robin Romero-Mullins. 

These three all have at least two things in common: they were blood donors (among many others) at a recent American Red Cross blood drive at the Brentwood Public Library and they all share a concern for the people and community around them. 

“Giving blood is a quick and easy way to help someone in need,” said Romero-Mullins, a law-practice administrator and part-time Yoga instructor. This donation marked her third donated pint of blood at a Red Cross blood drive. “As someone who’s been involved in health and fitness all my life, and as an O negative donor, I’m a much-needed candidate to give blood.” O negative is the most common blood type used for transfusions when the blood type of a patient is unknown. This is why it is used most often in cases of trauma, emergency, surgery, and any situation where blood type is unknown.  

Pilkinton has long been a dedicated donor. This visit would mark his 59^th pint. “Any physically eligible person who’s never donated blood, might want to think about it because some previous blood donor might save their life someday,” he said. Pilkinton is Vice President of Development for Business Technology Inc., a company that produces software for the broadcasting industry.   

Piccirilli just started donating, but is almost a one-gallon donor. “Giving blood to the Red Cross is beneficial to the entire community, and it’s a charitable thing to do,” he added. ”It is a nice gift to someone in need.” Piccirilli is a respiratory therapist and has given both platelets and whole blood to the American Red Cross. 

The Brentwood Library has been hosting weekly blood drives for the Red Cross and, in 2020, collected more than 6,000 pints of blood for area and regional hospitals. For more information on blood donation, or to schedule a blood donation at the Brentwood Library, go to RedCrossBlood.org and use the sponsor code: cityofbrentwood.  

Help is needed now more than ever to combat critical blood shortage across the country and right here at home. You can find out more about how you can make a difference at RedCrossBlood.org, or by volunteering at RedCross.org/Tennessee.