The Michigan Blood Center is an unlikely coffee break stop. But that is precisely

when I like to stop in and get my juice and cookies.  It is located at 1036 Fulller Ave. NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Of course, they like to take a little of my Type O blood before they give

out the cookies.  I am one of those fortunate enough to live in a community that has

 a generous and giving population. The Michigan Blood Center has branches and donation

centers all over Kent County and supplies 100% of the regular blood to our hospitals from

many West Michigan counties.

        DID YOU KNOW???

• a new born baby has about 8 oz. or 1 cup of blood 
• Every three seconds someone in our country needs blood
• Blood banks often run short of Type O and B blood
• Just one pint of blood can help up to 3 people
• 43,000 pints of donated blood are used each day in the US and Canada
• shortages of all types of blood occur most often during summer & winter holidays
• donating blood will not decrease your strength

They also do aspheresis, marrow, stem cells, and cord blood donations. 

I have donated to the aspheresis patients numerous times when The Blood

 Center calls with a desperate need for a donor.  How can you resist when they

tell you a little 12 year old girl has leukemia and needs your platelets to survive?

This is one of those situations where you don’t appreciate this gift

until you or your loved ones need it. Please consider giving the gift of life to

someone in need. It takes  a few moments out of your day and you get a free

coffee/juice break!!

                      I am working on my 10th gallon and I hate to admit how many cookies that is!!

                    DO YOUR GOOD DEED TODAY.     

                                   GIVE BLOOD.

Stack of Cookies photo courtesy of Flickr photostream by The Soka   

 Baby Evan photo by Terry Westbrook