Wayne Red Cross honored for blood collections
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on September 28, 2006 1:50 PM
The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross has been recognized for its blood collection efforts with a large symbolic clear crystal blood drop. The statuette stands in the lobby of the chapter building.
For an unprecedented 10th year, the Carolinas Blood Services Region, of which Wayne County is a part, is number one in the United States for blood collections. And Wayne County had a lot to do with it.
"That's amazing and we're part of that," said Samia Garner, blood services director. "Everything Wayne County does contributes to that."
Wayne County was recognized for reaching its blood collection goal, putting it in an elite group of Red Cross chapters, said Mrs. Garner. "We also made our efficiency rating and had a lot of growth in the county during the year."
Last year, the chapter collected just over 6,400 units of blood here. And each unit of blood can touch up to three lives.
"It's a wonderful program and we work hard all year long to collect the blood," Mrs. Garner said. "And it's nice to be recognized for our hard work.
"The award belongs to everyone in Wayne County -- the donors, volunteers, staff -- who comes in and makes a blood drive successful."
Mrs. Garner said that although it's nice to be recognized for the work that goes into collecting blood, at the end of the day, it's the blood and the people that it will help that are what is most important.
"There's no greater reward than to see our numbers doing well and knowing that we're doing everything we can to make sure that our supply in our area is at a safe and adequate level."