We count our blessings this holiday season by counting 12 heroes. During the “12 Days of Christmas Blood Drive” Community Blood Center is honoring 12 “Hometown Heroes” who have defended the region’s blood supply during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CENTERVILLE, Ohio – Community Blood Center celebrates the town of Centerville as a collective Hometown Hero because of the way schools, churches, businesses and the community collectively embraced the urgent need for blood donations.

“Everyone I asked for a favor in Centerville, stepped up to help Community Blood Center,” said account representative Donna Teuscher.  “They made sure we could run our drives for all of 2020. Every drive was full, or we added appointments, and they were big drives.  We could not have made it without these critical blood drives. This is a true city of Hometown Heroes.”

Traditional locations at schools, public buildings and businesses shut down and cancelled blood drives. Churches everywhere were suspending services.  But several Centerville churches took cautious steps to continue hosting their own blood drives and welcome others.

Incarnation Parish stepped in to host the Washington Township Fire Department blood drives.  “Incarnation not only gave us space,” said Donna, “They allowed us to increase the hours. We averaged 100 donors per drive and added platelet and plasma collections.”

Centerville Grace Church allowed CBC to use its new gym to host Epiphany Lutheran Church blood drives. The churches co-hosted blood drives every eight weeks.

Fairhaven Church continued it’s Saturday blood drive schedule and extended the hours. The Saturday, March 28 blood drive totaled 102 donors.

“I think because we know that other blood drives have been cancelled, we decided to do it because we know the urgent need,” said blood drive coordinator Rose Massaquoi. “We don’t want to turn down this blood drive. All church activities are cancelled, all services are online. The only thing we’re doing is the blood drive.”

A cornerstone of the community effort was Centerville High School. “Centerville High let us set up blood drives at the school every month,” said Donna. “They also let us hold the Officer John P. Kalaman drive in April.”

“We really have a service mindset in our community,” said Centerville High Principal John Carroll. “This year with being remote, I had to say more no’s than I wanted to. But with the blood drive we knew we could execute. Our kids are phenomenal in the way they want to give.”

Principal Carroll asked Centerville Schools Superintendent Dr. Tom Henderson for approval. “I said we really want to keep the blood drive going, I think it’s important,” said Principal Carroll.  “He said as long as we can keep it safe, let’s do it.”

The Officer John Kalaman Memorial Blood Drive has been a unified show of support for public safety workers ever since the Centerville policeman’s 1998 death in the line of duty. The April 27 blood drive moved from its traditional location at the Centerville Police Department to Centerville High School and was CBC’s only mobile blood drive of the day. It totaled 101 donors and 87 donations.

“We absolutely wanted to keep the Kalaman tradition of the blood drive alive, and for the Kalman family,” said Principal Carroll. “They give scholarships every year, they are a great family and we wanted to support them. They reached out when they heard we were going to host it, and they were so excited.”

Because of restrictions, it was the first time John and Paula Kalaman could not attend.

“It’s tough to stay away,” said Paula Kalaman. “If we had gone, we would have wanted to stay the whole day.  It was the best all around, but it was hard. There will be other years.”

 “It just goes to prove that no matter what the times are, people in our community are caring,” said Paula. “And what better birthday gift than giving someone the gift of life. We got a ton of those gift today.”

CBC is encouraging donations during the “12 Days of Christmas” blood drive now through Saturday, Dec. 26 at the Dayton CBC.  Everyone who registers to donate at the Dayton CBC will receive a Kroger $10 gift card in addition to “Holiday Hero” face mask and “Hometown Hero” t-shirt.  Donors must make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com or by calling (937) 461-3220.

MCCARTYVILLE, Ohio – As “Santa Claus” Jim Goettemoeller pushed back the red sleeve and fuzzy white cuff of his outfit to donate Dec. 22 at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish holiday blood drive, Community Blood Center phlebotomist Daria McGinnis reminded him, “You know we’re going to be testing you for ‘Santabodies.’”

A little chuckle of Christmas cheer was welcome as Sacred Heart hosted its annual holiday blood drive in McCartyville during a pandemic.  COVID-19 restrictions meant no feast of hot food and home-baked cookies in the Donor Café.  Even though Santa made an appearance, he had to limit his visit.

Despite the dark year, the gift of life abounded in McCartyville, boosting the blood supply three days before Christmas. With 194 donors, Sacred Heart registered more than 52% of CBC’s total donors for the day.  It included 153 whole blood donors, 11 platelet/plasma donors, and for the first time in the blood drive’s history, seven COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma donors.

“Typically, it’s known we offer almost a full meal,” said Knights of Columbus blood drive coordinator David Poeppelman. “With the restrictions we couldn’t have open food and no volunteers. Some can’t donate and they want to volunteer to help out. We had to turn people away this year and that was kind of hard for us.”

“I miss volunteering,” said Marcia Bensman, who wore a homemade face mask with pink flamingoes in Santa hats when she donated. “This one is fresh off the presses!”

David and his wife Denise put together CBC gift tumblers with candy and local merchant donated coupons. “It’s a shame we can’t give out sloppy joe’s,” said Denise. “But I think we’re getting a big turn-out.”

“I definitely miss the food,” said Sarah Foltz, a senior at Ohio State. “They always have really good cookies here!” Sarah started donating while at Anna High School and made her 8^th donation Tuesday, the equivalent of one gallon.

The humor about “Santabody” testing aside, David said CBC’s free COVID-19 antibody testing helped recruit donors. “A lot of people are interested in that, and it’s very good for helping get people to register,” he said. Donor registrations jumped nearly 8% compared to last year’s holiday blood drive.

“It’s a time of giving and we’re trying to promote the gift of giving,” said David. “It’s important for all of us in the Christmas season.”

Even at Christmas there is no escaping COVID-19.  A common discussion among donors was about family members who had been infected and their difficulties recovering. Even more unique than seeing Santa in a face mask was the opportunity to donate convalescent plasma for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Versailles donor Katherine Knapke came to Sacred Heart to make her first CCP donation because all the appointments at the Versailles blood drive were full.

“I knew I had it, I lost my sense of taste and smell,” said Katherine. “All my muscled ached.” An antibody test confirmed her suspicions and made her eligible to donate CCP.  “My mom signed up in Versailles, she had COVID after I did. She knew I wanted to do it.”

Minster donor Brian Barhorst had planned to make his usual platelet donation. Instead, his milestone 150^th lifetime donation was also his first CCP donation.

“This fall I had a sinus infection, like I typically have every year,” said Brian. “I got the letter yesterday that I was antibody positive, so I switched today.”

He was joined by Chris Wehner from Houston and Ron Bruns from Anna, all making their first CCP donations side by side.

The 100-year-old jingle bell harness that Jim Goettemoeller wears with his Santa suite barely rustled as Jim completed his 70^th lifetime donation, then teased a few friends by handing them a chunk of coal instead of candy. Like everyone, he was disappointed by the pandemic restrictions but happy to keep a holiday tradition.

“It’s giving joy, said Jim. “Giving joy to everybody… and to anybody.”

DAYTON, Ohio – Make it your mission in 2021 to help save lives by donating during the “New Year’s Resolution Blood Drive” now through Dec. 31. at the Dayton Community Blood Center, 349 South Main St.

Everyone who registers to donate at the Dayton CBC now through Dec. 31 will receive a Kroger $10 gift card, the new “Holiday Hero” face mask and the December “Hometown Hero – Give Local, Save Local” long-sleeve t-shirt. Make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com or call (937) 461-3220.

CBC reminds donors they are “Hometown Heroes” because the blood they give stays in the CBC region, supplies CBC’s partner hospitals, and helps save the lives of their neighbors.

The traditional challenges of the holidays season and the arrival of winter are far greater this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The surge in coronavirus cases has resulted in multiple businesses and high school blood drive cancellations. Blood drives that have remained on schedule are operating at reduced capacity.

Donate COVID-19 Plasma on Sundays: The surge in coronavirus hospitalizations has created peak demand for COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma for the immediate treatment of critically ill patients. In response, CBC is now scheduling CCP donations on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dayton CBC Donation Center, 349 S. Main St.

All registered CCP donors receive Kroger $25 gift card and the “COVID-19 Crisis Warrior” t-shirt. Potential CCP donors must have tested positive for COVID-19 by the RNA swab test or antibody blood test and must be free of all symptoms for 14 days. First-time convalescent plasma donors must have proof of positive test and should register at www.GivingBlood.org or call (937) 461-3220. If you have previously donated convalescent plasma with CBC please make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com or call (937) 461-3220.