Published on Thursday, July 23, 2026 in Blog

July 24, 2026

FEEL-GOOD NEWS

Heroes For Life: St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy

First responders get it! They understand the importance of donating blood.

Police, firefighters, and ambulance crews understand that some of the lifesaving work they are called upon to do would not be possible if people did not give blood on a regular basis.

That’s why we were happy to hold a blood drive Monday at the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy.

Police cadets voluntarily rolled up their sleeves and donated lifesaving blood!

KTVI Fox 2 News even showed up to highlight their efforts!

We All Bleed The Same!

Our team had a blast connecting with community members at the River City Pride Festival last Saturday in Peoria. We offered free blood typing and answered questions about the blood donation process. 

It also was a chance to talk about the 2023 FDA eligibility changes that made blood donation more inclusive, to explain how blood saves lives every day, and to welcome more people into our donor community. 

Community Partner Spotlight: 100 Black Men

Good things happen when we partner for life! 

Last Saturday, we teamed up with 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis for a blood drive at their facility on Delmar, where we collected 13 pints of lifesaving blood! Organizations like this shape the fabric of the community.

We're always on the lookout for great community partners like 100 Black Men. If you know of an organization looking for ways to give back, send them to our Donor Relations team at 2-Donor Relations@impactlife.org. More information can be found here!

Inspiring the Next Generation of Lifesavers

Hundreds of kids and their families from the Cedar Rapids community participated in the Collins Aerospace STEM Day, and many dropped by our table throughout the day to learn about blood, blood donation, and the science behind saving lives. 

Visitors of all ages tested their knowledge with blood-themed trivia, explored a hands-on model highlighting the major components of blood, and discovered how blood transfusions help patients every day.

We're proud to be out in the community and find fun ways to spark curiosity about STEM while introducing young people to the importance of blood donation. By engaging future scientists, healthcare professionals, and blood donors, we're cultivating the next generation of lifesavers!

Leaving a Legacy of Giving

Sometimes what we do is give people a way to honor those they've lost. 

On Wednesday, we partnered with the Danville Correctional Center for the First Annual Memorial Blood Drive in honor of Jimmy H. Abbed and Bradley J. Schluter.

The team at Danville Correctional Center showed up in a huge way to honor the memory of their former coworkers.

  • 88 registered donors
  • 90 units of blood collected

Learn more about our Legacy of Giving initiative here.

Putting Good into the World, One Rock at a Time!

Today is "Paint a Rock, Leave a Rock" day, and members of the Donor Recruitment team took time to celebrate by tapping into their creativity to spread a little joy. Bright red hearts were painted on a dark blue field meant to represent the world – colors that just so happened to be shared by ImpactLife!

The project was a fun opportunity to connect as a team while creating tiny works of art meant to surprise and delight members of the community. Whether found by a child, a family, or someone simply out for a walk, these painted rocks carry a small reminder that even the simplest acts can bring a smile, make someone's day a little brighter, and Put Good into the World.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Jodie Schumacher

Training and Development Coordinator | Davenport, IA

Jodie Schumacher, Training and Development Coordinator | Davenport, IA

Time at ImpactLife
5 years

Blood Type
A Positive

What runs through your veins?
Cold Brew and blood cells, of course.

What's your favorite thing about being part of our team?
I'm consistently reminded about the positive impact of the work we do. Both at work, and outside of work, I love getting to hear people's stories on how blood products have either saved their life or given them more time with a loved one. I'm grateful to have a hand in helping our community.

When you are not at work you can be found?
At a local coffee shop or music venue with my friends.

Feel-Good News is published every Friday to inspire + connect our ImpactLife team.

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