| Blood
drive co-chairs receive award
Brenda Kaschmitter and Cheri Holthaus the co-chairs for the Cottonwood Blood drive have received the Red Cross T.E.A.M. Award. This award is presented in each state of our region; Idaho, Montana and Utah. Only three awardsare presented in the entire region. The guideline is, “Outstanding teamwork and exceptional service performed by a Red Cross volunteer team.” The Cottonwood Blood Drive has a large volunteer base. “Brenda and Cheri embrace all the volunteers and make them feel important and they keep coming back,” said Karen Parvin, Red Cross Donor Representative.“The HOSA high school students are on board as well as many senior citizens who have been there for 20 years.” The team has done two in-service training sessions with the employees of St. Mary’s Hospital; which has increased the employee donor base by over 50%. The hospital sponsors the blood drives as well as employees both Kaschmitter and Holthaus. They have also done in-services at Prairie High School. “If we can get the students to start donating blood at an early age chances are they will continue to donate throughout their lives,” commented Kaschmitter. The goal for the Cottonwood drive is 90 units. “This is a pretty lofty goal for a town with a population of just a little over 900,” remarked Parvin. Since 2008; when Brenda and Cheri took over the chairmanship their blood drives have added up to 1267 units; which is 7 units over their goal. The team continues to educate the community about the need for blood and bringing in many first time donors, which is sustaining and building the donor base. “Brenda and I want to thank the Red Cross for this honor; but this award belongs to a lot of different people, not just the two of us. It belongs to all those who volunteer their time and of course all the donors who come in time after time to give their blood. We want to thank each and every one of you,” said Holthaus. 
Cottonwood Blood Drive co-chairs Brenda Kaschmitter, left, and Cheri Holthaus have received the Red Cross T.E.A.M. Award. |
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