Dear Editor,

On Friday, October 21, 2016, the Red Cross Blood Mobile made its last stop in Monticello for the year. It was a lovely fall day. Forty-seven kind and generous people came to the basement of the Zwingli church to donate. At the end of the day, the Red Cross nurses and the volunteers had successfully collected fifty-one units total: thirty-six units of whole blood and fifteen doubles. We were able to meet our goal for the blood drive. It was a long afternoon, ending at 6:30 p.m. for the workers and volunteers, but everyone was grateful to the donors for their time and efforts.

Congratulations to Larry Goecks, who received his one-gallon pin. Wear it in good health!

Delicious food and drink at the canteen was supplied by Colony Brands, Edelweiss Creamery, Jack Links, the Monticello Lions, and the Zwingli Church Ruth Circle. Student members of the National Honor Society from Monticello High School helped to unload the Red Cross truck and facilitate set up. Members of the Monticello Lions Club helped to tear down and load items back into the truck at the end of the day. Donna Durtschi, Lucille Elmer, and Nancy Briggs helped Anna Marie Davison with registration, workflow, and stocking the canteen. Thank you to all of these people and companies for making the October Blood Drive in Monticello a success.

With the end of 2016 drawing near, we would like to send our appreciation and best wishes out to everyone. We are proud to live in a community that supports the Red Cross Blood Drives throughout Green County. Many lives have been improved and saved by your donation and each time you give blood you are touching many people. Thank you to everyone who has helped make the Red Cross Blood Drives in Monticello a success in 2016. We look forward to seeing you again in 2017!

The Monticello Red Cross Blood Drive Team