Two local residents reach milestone in recent Pontiac-area blood drives

Gerry Groskreutz hit a major milestone in October at the monthly Fairbury Bloodmobile. Jim Yoder also set a standard in the blood drive for September.

A resident of Chatsworth, Groskreutz hit the 27-gallon mark in his blood donations over the years at the October drive held at the First United Methodist Church on Oct. 25.

Yoder of Forrest hit the 30-gallon mark with his donation at the Sept. 27 drive.

Overall, the October drive collected 64 units and the September drive collected 52 units.

Karen Kohnke, regional coordinator for the organ/tissue donor program, was at the bloodmobile to register those who were interested in being an organ donor. She was accompanied by Deb Moran and Bryan Aberle. Moran is a heart transplant recipient and Aberle donated a kidney. Both are advocates for the organ donor program.

First-time donors in October were John Kostesich, Ross Taylor and Ken Scurlock, all of Fairbury.

Besides Groskreutz, others reaching milestones were Theresa Thomas, Fairbury, and Josh Kaeb, Forrest, both at two gallons, Nate Kelson, Fairbury, three gallons, David Coomer, Chenoa, four gallons, Ernie Garcia, Fairbury, 11 gallons, and Kathy Haab, Forrest, 12 gallons.

Also donating were Alice Gordon, Randall Stoller, Jan Lancaster, Marcus Duncan, Cindy Ifft, Dennis Stephens, Ashley Zimmerman, Cathy Smith, Aimee Boulware, Torri Followell, Mark Houck, Melissa Banwart, Martin Steidinger, Philip Leman, Daniel Schrader, Darren Maurer, Stanley Blunier, Paul Harms, Joel Zimmerman, Rollin Wenger, Brenda Bachtold, Hope Salinas, Anne Nugent, Mark Haab, Sheryl Atkins, Barbara Schlatter, Ray Popejoy, Ty Cottrell, John Teubel, Weston Cottrell, Dawn Kestner, Matt Brauman, Elizabeth Getty, Valla Broquard, Walt Edelman, Mike Onsager, Harvey Bahler, Carol Melton, Jeanette Franklin, Heidi Bachman, Nancy Kahle, Darl Rassi, Lynn Short, Mark Hall, Betty Dray, Samantha Stork, Evan Hish, Robert Mayo, MaryAnn Stork, Anita Boomgarden, Judith Smith, David Boomgarden, Kathleen Lawless and Eli Meister.

Donors came from Strawn, Forrest, Chatsworth, Chenoa, Fairbury, Piper City, Cullom, Lexington, Cropsey and Gridley.

The Lions Club furnished a Dave’s gift card to provide food for the donors and also donated cookies. Those from the club furnishing cookies were Mary Carter, Ruth Teubel, Joe Oprondek, Marcia Oprondek and Debbie Vance. Kathy Honegger also donated cookies.

Volunteers working at the bloodmobile were Karyl Kafer, Jeanne Elliott, Mary Carter, Jane Trowitch, Jone Meister, Jeanie Searby, Lisa Kilgus, Judy Bennett, Lolita Dunahee, Josie Harms, MaryAnn Stork, Mark Hall, Harold Meister, Deb Moran, Kathy Fehr, Linda Zick, Barb Taylor and Shelley Schahrer.

In September, Wesley Edwards of Fairbury was a first-time donor and Fairburians Kent Edelman and Sam Broquard, who both reached two gallons. Also reaching milestones were Montie Gerber, Forrest, at five gallons, Charles Larsen, Chatsworth, got to nine gallons, Trish Steidinger, Fairbury, hit 11 gallons and Nancy Stadler, Chatsworth, reached 16 gallons.

Also donating were Cody Maher, Greg Hish, Lawton Bell, Will Barsema, Dale Banwart, Brian Short, Robert Bradbury, Aaron Gerber, Erin Bittner, Lori Patton, Joan Gerber, Teri Wenger, Katherine Sedam, Laura Schaffer, Walt Edelman, Jessica Embrey, Larry Bazzell, Donna Delaney, John Vitzthum, Kyle Buchanan, Catherine Wahls, Dennis Hornickel, Karen Steidinger, John Krueger, Bryan Aberle, Jeanette Coomber, Betty Dray, Gregg Honegger, Craig Ziller, Jan Lancaster, Lori Leman, Beth Weeks, Christine Barham, Jayna Leman, June Yoder, Shannon Brown, David Diller, Barbara Gregory, Richard Stoller, Alice Gordon, Devon Steidinger and Kim Kovach.

September donors came from Strawn, Gibson City, Forrest, Chatsworth, Chenoa, Fairbury, Piper City and Sibley.

The Presbyterian Church Women furnished a Dave’s gift card to provide food for the donors and also donated cookies. In addition, Kathy Honegger also furnished cookies.

Volunteers working at the September bloodmobile included Kathy Cook, Teresa Thomas, Judy Wells, Jeanie Searby, Darna Lee Dearth, Judy Bennett, Josie Harms, Sharon McCoy, Barb Taylor, Katie Cavanagh, Shelley Schahrer, Karyl Kafer, Beverly Forneris, Joan Zehr, Edie Moulton, Kay Hammer, Lolita Dunahee, Deb Moran, Becky Webster, Linda Zick and Kathy Fehr.

The next opportunity to donate blood will be Wednesday, Nov. 22, from 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.