Groundworks Hosts Blood Drive Benefitting the American Red Cross

Event Recap: Giving the Gift of Life

Blood is a necessity and something that is often in critical need. On Aug. 22, 2024, Groundworks’ Pittsburgh team, formerly Baker’s Waterproofing, was excited to host a community blood drive benefitting the American Red Cross.

Spearheaded by Office Manager Susan Cobert-Walker, the event was open to everyone, including the public and company staff and managers. We had several donors from our branch, with the majority of donations coming from local community members.

Saving Lives One Drop At A Time

Our team was so excited to host a successful event the first time around.

Cobert-Walker provided the following results:

• 20 out of 48 appointments were filled.
• 17 units of whole blood were collected.
• 1 Power Red donation was made.

Sometimes, individuals may want to donate but aren’t able to on the day of their appointment. There are various reasons for this—recent tattoos from unregulated states, being on antibiotics, or even high blood pressure. Several factors can impact eligibility on the day of donation.

“It was an incredible cause—saving lives, and all it cost was a little time,” Cobert-Walker said. “We look forward to continuing to support our community and offering the gift of life through our facilities.”

About the American Red Cross

Every day, the American Red Cross helps those in need through disaster relief, health and safety courses, military aid, and other essential programs, not to mention lifesaving blood.

Volunteer donors are the essence of the Red Cross, providing about 40% of the nation’s blood and blood components. However, there’s often a gap between supply and demand, as only around 3% of eligible individuals donate blood annually. Each additional donor plays a crucial role in meeting patient needs.

In the U.S., someone requires blood every two seconds. This vital resource is critical for various medical situations, including surgeries, cancer treatments, chronic illness management, and trauma care. Regardless of whether a patient needs whole blood, red cells, platelets, or plasma, the journey of this lifesaving care begins with a single person’s generous donation.

How to Save a Life

Supporting and giving back to the community is part of Groundworks’ backbone. We firmly believe in returning the many blessings we’ve been given, and supporting the Red Cross’s life-saving mission is one of the many ways we pay it forward.

You can help, too! Visit the American Red Cross website to learn how to volunteer, donate, or participate in a blood drive.