Rita Hutchinson
July 31, 2008
Helen Ann Hebert Martin
August 4, 2008
With the need for blood donors, South Louisiana Bank challenges all corporate organizations and members of the community to donate blood at the Terrebonne General Medical Center Blood Donor Center.
In an effort to hopefully save lives, 10 bank employees have gotten together every eight weeks to donate a total of 387 pints.
What started out as two regular donors, Vice President George Robichaux and bank President Chuck Weaver, has grown to 10 since February 2007.
“It’s a win-win,” Weaver said. “Donating is a social event for all of us and a life-saving gift for someone in need. I am thankful I can give rather than receive blood.”
The donors include: Robichaux, 127 pints; Weaver, 81 pints; Ann Storms, 75 pints; Robert Ross, 35 pints; Cal McKey, 33 pints; Jimmy Klingman, 11 pints; Jay Walker, 10 pints; Dawn Pierron, six pints; Alfredia Frank, five pints; and Dawn Pontiff, four pints.
The monthly get-together is something the bank uses as a bonding tool between its employees, while helping the community at the same time.
“The gift of blood is a life-saving event that also makes the donor feel good about themselves,” Robichaux said. “We enjoy getting together as a group for this worthwhile purpose.”
The Blood Donor Center also encourages other organizations to challenge their employees to donate. TGMC’s Blood Center offers a corporate blood assurance plan in which the organization is covered in its entirety if 25 percent of its employees donate blood a minimum of once a year. The Blood Assurance Plan covers the cost of blood and blood products issued to patients of TGMC.
Before donating blood, donors are taken through a four-step process: medical history, quick physical, donation and refreshment. As a sign of gratitude, donors can choose from a T-shirt, CD holder or a free cholesterol check.
Anyone interested in donating blood, who is at least 17 years old and 110 lbs., can call the Blood Donor Center at (985) 873-4025 or (985) 873-4026 or stop by the center located in the TGMC Annex Building on Belanger Street.
The center is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Tuesday until 5:30 p.m.
South Louisiana Bank employees responded in kind to a recent plea for blood donors at the TGMC Blood Donor Center. From left are, Chuck Weaver, Jay Walker, Dawn Pierron, Robert Ross, Jimmy Klingman and George Robichaux, six of the bank’s 10 regular givers. * Photo courtesy of TGMC
