Lawrence Livermore National Lab Employees Give More Than 25K Pints of Blood

Announcement, photo submitted by Red Cross:

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is well-known in the security community as a government organization enhancing the nation’s defense and reducing the global threat of terrorism. If you do not work there, due to security, you may not know the full significance of its work. You also may not know about the generous support of LLNL’s employees to the Bay Area community.

Lawerence Livermore National Laboratory management has a strong commitment to support the community and donating blood is high on the list. During the past 22 years, lab employees have generously donated more than 25,000 pints of blood through the American Red Cross to help maintain a safe community blood supply. The Lawrence Livermore Employee Association currently sponsors three blood drives a year, and each drive is four days long.

“Our employees have national security in their blood, and then they give that blood,” said Tom Gioconda, deputy director of the laboratory.

The Red Cross also relies on LLNL volunteers to register their donors and provide them with refreshments following their donation. Due to LLNL security, many retired employees make a significant contribution by serving as volunteers at the blood drives.

In 2001, Barbara Hill, a Livermore resident, became the first retiree volunteer coordinator for LLNL’s blood drives. “I had no trouble recruiting retirees to help and we all loved meeting with the lab donors over donuts and the two drink minimum bar. We were happy to check donors in when they arrived and bid them good-bye when they were ready to return to work.”

Hill held several positions in the medical and mechanical engineering departments at the laboratory. Upon retirement, she then served as the blood drive coordinator for almost five years. During that time, the lab held five drives annually and she attended every day of every drive. In total, she spent 100 days volunteering at her former workplace between 2001 and 2006. Hill has also spent hundreds of hours on the phone coordinating volunteer schedules, calling donors to remind them of their appointments and hustling them into the empty spots on the schedule.

“I guess I love doing the blood drive volunteer job because of my interest in anything medical,” said Hill. “My mom required a transfusion many years ago so maybe that is always in the back of my mind.”

At 81 years young, Hill still volunteers at least one day at each LLNL blood drive, including the most recent drive held during the first week of April. She also volunteers for the East Bay Regional Park District Trail Safety Patrol, Livermore Police Department and several other organizations.

“I love this community and have spent all of my adult years here so I like to give back as much as I am able. My sons say my hobby is volunteering.”

To learn more about volunteering at Red Cross blood drives, go to redcrossblood.org.

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.orgor call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.