FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — A military police training company here became the fourth member of the Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center’s 100-Donor Club on March 5.
Company C, 787th Military Police Battalion, had 101 eligible individuals who wanted to give blood to the Armed Services Blood Program, which solidified the unit’s membership. The 100-Donor Club is reserved for organizations that provide 100 or more eligible donors during a single-day blood drive. No unit has hit this milestone since Company D, 787th MP Bn., did in November 2022.
The 100-Donor Club members will have their unit’s name, the number of donors provided and the drive’s date recorded on a plaque hanging in the donor center lobby. They’ll also receive a “Giving 4 Living” streamer to display in their trophy case.
“We can’t say thank you enough to these Soldiers,” said Capt. Marianne Rose, the center’s chief. “Their compassion is saving lives around the world. We can only collect blood from people who voluntarily give it, so we thank them for helping us help others.”
The Missouri-based donor center has conducted several blood drives so far in 2023, averaging about three dozen eligible donors per drive. The Charlie Company event nearly tripled that mark, something Rose said she finds extremely encouraging.
“It makes me proud to see so many young men and women giving to a cause that’s bigger than themselves,” she said. “Without them, we couldn’t accomplish our mission. Donating blood is something many people don’t think about until someday, when illness or injury strikes. We’re asking everyone to think about the people who are there right now.”
And that’s exactly what these Soldiers did, according to Charlie Company 1st Sgt. Luis Ventura.
“This milestone shows me I have a team of Soldiers who are empathetic to the needs of others and understand what it means to provide for those in need,” Ventura said, noting he told his unit about a battle buddy he had whose life was saved thanks to an ample blood supply. “We need to explain to our Soldiers the significance of donating, where the blood goes and the impact it can have on the mission. When we don’t have enough blood available, we lose Soldiers.”
The center here collects blood for the Armed Serviced Blood Program, the official blood product provider for the Department of Defense. Collected blood may travel around the world to those deployed or at military hospitals nearby. The military healthcare system requires hundreds of units of blood every day and it’s the ASBP mission to ensure its available.
“So, if you have your health, celebrate it by giving blood to those who are not as fortunate,” Rose said. “Our new 100-Donor Club members demonstrated the power that true compassion for others can have.”
For more information about the Fort Leonard Wood Blood Donor Center, its 100-Donor Club or to make an appointment to donate, email Carl.A.Norman2.civ@health.mil or call 573.596.6150.
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