By Cyrus Guccione
Mail

As the Noon Kiwanis Club Blood Drive nears its 25th anniversary in Fountain Hills, the club has helped facilitate the donation of over 14,000 units of life-saving blood from donors.

For its work in supporting and facilitating blood drives in the community, the Noon Kiwanis Club has received the Vitalant Impact Award for the 18th time in a row.

“Only the best of the best get this award,” Paul Appeldorn said, Kiwanis blood drive coordinator.

Appeldorn says each unit of blood can potentially help up to three people.

In 1999, when Appeldorn first moved to Fountain Hills, there were two blood drives per year. Today, Noon Kiwanis holds five, two-day drives per year.

“It is a good thing to do,” Appeldorn said. “It’s something that is needed, and it really doesn’t hurt when you do it.”

Since approximately 2012, the Town of Fountain Hills has co-sponsored the drives with Noon Kiwanis. Drives are held on Fridays and Saturdays in the Community Center.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the blood drives were transitioned into bloodmobiles while the Community Center ballrooms were used for spacing. The Town Hall was later used during the Community Center renovation.

Vitalant (formerly United Blood Services) is a nonprofit organization that collects blood from volunteer donors and provides blood, blood products and services across the United States.

In 2013, blood drives were held by 3,400 organizations, according to a press release.

“A donor recently was asked why he donates blood and he gave a very simple reason. ‘Be the reason someone gets a second chance,’” Appeldorn said. “This is our opportunity to give someone that chance.”

The next blood drive is set for June 21 and 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Community Center.

For appointments, call Paul Appeldorn at 480-836-8213 or Dr. Liz Smith at 480-837-2600 or make an appointment online at donors.vitalant.org.

The Noon Kiwanis Club of Fountain Hills is a service club that follows the motto of Kiwanis International. The club has several service projects in the community including the blood drive, Adopt-A-Street, Breakfast with Santa and the Ronald McDonald House, to name a few.

For more information, visit fhkiwanis.org.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Cyrus Guccione can be reached at cguccione@iniusa.org.