A continued commitment to helping others

by Dan Dowling – regional communications manager 

“This is about neighborhoods and about the community that I'm in. My donation is lifesaving.” 

Mark Wolf of Poultney, Vermont has spent his life giving himself to others, in his career, as a volunteer and as a blood donor.  In his late teens, Mark signed up for first aid training through the Red Cross. Soon he put those lifesaving skills to work as a volunteer EMT with a local volunteer ambulance company.

“I always have done volunteer work, even when I was a teenager,” he says. 

Marks recalls his second call with the ambulance company. He says it was a life-changing experience. He responded to a flipped-over convertible with two patients in desperate need of blood. The hospital’s blood bank was empty, and doctors had to search among employees for a match. This moment ignited Mark’s lifelong commitment to blood donation. 

He’s now been giving blood on a regular basis for several decades – and estimates that he’s donated over 10 gallons of blood during his lifetime. For Mark, blood donation is more than just a lifesaving act. 

“It is a chance to meet people from a variety of different walks of life that if I hadn’t donated blood, I would be poor for not having had the experience of knowing about their life experience,” he reflects. 

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion. A blood donation appointment takes about an hour from start to finish, but the actual donation only takes about 8 to 10 minutes. 

Mark’s story is a testament to the impact one person can have through consistent and dedicated blood donation. His journey inspires others to give back to their communities and save lives, one pint at a time. 
After an emergency blood shortage this summer, the national blood supply remains fragile. There is a continued critical need for blood this September. A steady increase in lifesaving blood products is vital to ensuring hospitals stay ready for any situation this fall. As National Preparedness Month continues, the Red Cross stresses the importance of having a strong supply of blood products on hand for disasters and emergencies of all kinds and to meet the needs of patients every day. 

You can make a difference in someone’s life, just like Mark. Schedule a blood or platelet donation appointment by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).