National Guard: serving their community by rolling up a sleeve

By Brian Bouley, Red Cross community manager – Aroostook County

National Guardsmen serve in many ways.

For some people, the act of donating blood may have an elaborate back story such as a relative having emergency surgery and needing a transfusion or a donor wanting to pay if forward after having received a donation themselves. But for others, they just do it – even without a personal connection to blood.

When asked the question, “Why have you decided to give blood?” both Staff Sargeant Audriana Willey and Sargeant First Class Benny Nadeau said that they donate because it’s the right thing to do, to help other people. 

SSG Willey, a recruiter with the Maine Army National Guard and originally from Fairfield, Maine, said she has been giving blood off and on since she was in high school and when she worked as a lab technician at Cary Medical Center. She says that giving blood just another way of serving the community – just as she does serving in the Guard.

SSG 1st Class Nadeau, a 13-year member of the National Guard from St. Francise, Maine, says that he never really thought about the reason behind his gift. He just feels that it’s his duty as a person to give to the community whenever he can.

Willey and Nadeau are Aroostook County residents and work full time out of the Northern Maine Readiness Center, Maine Army National Guard Facility in Presque Isle, Maine.

On Thursday, both rolled up a sleeve to help patients in need of lifesaving blood – a need that is truly constant. One in seven patients entering the hospital will need a blood transfusion. 

As February continues, so does the potential for additional weather systems to disrupt blood drives and the ability to provide critical blood products to hospitals. While thousands of donors have answered the call to donate in recent weeks to combat a significant drop in the blood supply, more donors are needed now to ensure the blood supply remains ready for those in need of lifesaving medical procedures. 

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Feb. 12-29:

Aroostook County

Caribou

2/22/2024: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Caribou Wellness Center, Caribou Wellness Center, 55 Bennett Dr

Fort Kent

2/21/2024: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Fort Kent K C Hall, 372 Frenchville Rd

Houlton

2/23/2024: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., St. Mary of the Visitation, St. Mary of the Visitation, 110 Military St.

Don’t wait − make an appointment to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS. In thanks for helping, all who come to give in February will get a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Heart.