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Couple Crisscrosses the Country to Recruit New Blood Donors
Linda and Jim Parker aren’t the kind of people who sit around talking about a bad situation. Taking action to correct the problem is their style.
Mary Etta Boesl
Tuesday, June 03, 2008 — Since March 2004 Linda and Jim Parker have spent summers and long holidays traveling from state-to-state donating whole blood and platelets. They've rolled up their sleeves in 41 states. They plan to do the same in the remaining nine states before the end of the year.
Jim and Linda Parker prepare to travel to several states to recruit blood donors.” (Photo Credit: Jim and Linda Parker)
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“Our message at every stop is the same,” says Jim. “There is a blood shortage and there is a desperate need for new donors, especially donors in the 17 to 35 age group.”
Jim explained that he had seen too many empty coolers at blood collection sites—coolers containing not even half-a-day's supply of blood. He talked about one place where the collection center took the platelets Linda and he had just donated directly to the hospital where they were used that same day.
Longtime blood donors, and Red Cross disaster volunteers before that, the Kansas couple wanted to do something beyond giving blood. Aware that people came through their town on coast-to-coast journeys supporting all sorts of causes, they decided to embark on their own odyssey. They determined to give blood on all 50 states.
They gave blood in Alabama while people were putting plywood over the windows in preparation for Hurricane Dennis. They walked across the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and rode on the Erie Canal in New York. After giving blood in Florida, they took a walk on the beach, and found themselves complying with requests to take the photos for a wedding ceremony in progress.
With the school year finished, the Parkers, both teachers, are loading their van. They will head for the first state on their itinerary, New Jersey. In New Jersey Jim will be donating his 197th time and Linda will be donating for the 132th time. Before returning home in late July Jim and Linda will visit also New Hampshire, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Nevada, Alaska and West Virginia.
During their Thanksgiving vacation this year, the couple will travel to Hawaii, their 50th and final state. This is where they will once again tell all who will listen about the importance of saving lives through blood donations.
Finally Linda and Jim will go home to Kansas, carrying with them an address book full of new friends, memorable once-in-a-lifetime experiences and the satisfaction of knowing they made a difference.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.
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