A few donate a lot
March 2, 2010 by sttalbot
Filed under KCSOS Spotlight
Mary Alice Means donation began with a blood screening.
As Mary Alice Means settled in to donate blood on Feb. 23, she pulled out a thick paperback that she knew would never get read. Means, a retirement technician with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, is one of approximately 36 employees who donate regularly, during office blood drives to the Houchin Community Blood Bank. Each has contributed at least a gallon of blood. Means is a member of the Nine Gallon Club, just two pints away from 10.
Next, Means had her blood pressure measured.
“I always bring the book figuring I’ll get some reading done, but I never do because the time goes by so quickly,” Means said. “From the time they start screening you until you’re finished donating takes about 45 minutes. They are (the technicians) so good that I don’t even feel the needle going in. It’s not painful, and in about 10 minutes it’s all over.”
Means’ cheerful attitude and dedication to donating is symbolic of how all the KCSOS donors seem to feel about contributing to Houchin. The total amount of blood donated by the 34 employees is 131 gallons. Each person can donate only a pint every 56 days. So, if you break their contributions down by pints, three dozen employees have been responsible for 1,048 pints of blood. If one contributed every time they could, it would take 14 months to donate a gallon. Which makes Means’ contribution and that of all the “Gallon Club” members even more remarkable.
About 10 minutes is all it will take for Mary Alice Means to donate her pint.
Houchin says they have months when blood is needed more acutely than others, such as February and the summer season. Means is one of those who frequently gets called when there is a shortage. She has been donating since age 19 and because her blood type is “O,” which can be used by almost anyone, Means is even more in demand.
Topping the list of current KCSOS employee donors in Houchin’s database is Communications Administrator Jim Varley with 18 gallons. Human Resources Technician Carolyn Hughes has donated 11. The third highest total belongs to Means.
KCSOS Gallon Club Blood Donors
Jim Varley – 18
Carolyn Hughes – 11
Mary Alice Means – 9
Dawn Johnson – 8
Bobbette Wellwood – 8
Erin Clerico – 7
Sylvia Treanor – 7
Teresa Costa – 6
Mary Baker – 5
Teresa Green – 5
Stacey Inman – 5
Hal Barnes – 4
Sandy Boston – 4
Jose Morales – 4
Corey Eby – 3
Gregory Ardoin – 2
Hazel Fields – 2
Vicki Lueck – 2
Nidya Madrigal-Navia – 2
Tracye Taylor – 2
Daryl Thiesen – 2
Darie Wright – 2
Jeffrey Coomber – 2
Trudi Blanco – 1
Gabriela Bravo – 1
Sandra Caballero – 1
Deana Claflin – 1
Chris Hall – 1
Kathy Hansen – 1
Christine Lizardi Frazier – 1
Richard Nelson – 1
Cheryl Philley – 1
David Schreuder – 1
Laurie Swan – 1
Next office blood drive is April 20.
