Patch Gives 5... Actually, 16

As an organization Patch employees donate 5 business days a year to a local organization that needs volunteers.

I had a nervous look painted on my face as I entered the bloodmobile late Thursday morning. I didn’t know what to expect. This was my first official time donating blood.

In the past I’ve tried to give blood twice but it never worked out because I always had a low iron count. But this time I prepared myself.

I ate salmon the night before and had a peanut butter and grape jelly sandwich for breakfast. I skipped my morning cup of coffee, which is more of a sacrifice than I care to admit, and I drank plenty of water. I read all these things after doing extensive “What to eat before giving blood” Google searches.

It wasn’t so bad. The woman from Heartland Blood Center told me I had nice veins! I met a very nice lady from the village’s community development department who kept my mind off the needle that was resting in my arm. She said this was her fifteenth time donating.

I was also entertained by two Algonquin police officers, who were racing to see who could fill his blood bag the fastest. It was a race I was happy not to be a part of.

Before I knew it, I was 16 ounces lighter and I was saving up to three lives.

Would I do it again? In a heartbeat.