WEAR ORANGE, GIVE RED
We were proud to team up with SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, June 1, 2026, for a Wear Orange blood drive. Wear Orange Weekend takes place June 5-7, with National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday, June 5. That continues the tradition of honoring survivors and demanding action against gun violence. It’s all very timely as we enter Trauma Season - a time each year when the need for blood donations goes up, while the summer blood supply goes down.
Our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Daniela Hermelin said, “This blood drive offers us an opportunity to raise awareness around both gun violence and the lifesaving importance of blood donation—by highlighting the continuum of care and support. One point that deeply resonates with me is the relationship between gun violence and blood transfusions.”
WE WILL ALWAYS GIVE FOR GAVIN
The Giving for Gavin Blood Drive once again demonstrated the power of community and the lasting impact of one family's commitment to giving back. More than 100 donors gave blood in Gavin’s honor throughout the month of May, including 26 donors who participated in the drive held over the weekend. Our friends from KWQC came by and covered the drive.
Inspired by Gavin’s courageous battle with pediatric cancer, his family also organized a LEGO collection to benefit children currently receiving treatment. Thanks to the generosity of donors and supporters, more than 100 LEGO sets were collected and will help bring comfort and joy to young patients facing challenges of their own. Together, every donation and every LEGO set helped continue Gavin’s legacy of putting good into the world.
Donors can still Give for Gavin and drop off a LEGO set at any of our Quad Cities centers in June, or join us at another Giving for Gavin mobile on Saturday, June 20th in Mendota, Illinois.
PROUD PART OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS
We were proud to once again host a polling location at our Davenport headquarters - this time for the Primaries voting last Tuesday. Thank you to everyone who came out to vote, as well as the poll workers who made it happen. Civic engagement starts right here in our community!
IT'S TIME TO ROCK THE DOCK!
We've partnered with Woodward Community Media - Springfield again this summer for a rockin' good time! Donors can get a free ticket to the July 3 "ROCK THE DOCK" party at Lake Springfield Marina when donating at our Springfield and Decatur centers! We'll let Teresa Tran from Donor Relations take it from here!
HONORING EAGLE SCOUTS IN ST LOUIS
We sponsored the Greater St. Louis Area Scouting Soaring Higher Dinner, June 2, honoring female scouts who have earned the Eagle Scout rank.
Territory manager Gregg Schneider and community relations manager Alex Fees represented us at the event, and reminded scouts, parents, and scout leaders about how organizing a blood drive can qualify as an Eagle Scout service project.
In 2019, Scouting America opened its flagship programs to girls. Among other demands, becoming an Eagle Scout requires a Scout to plan and lead a service project and earn 21 merit badges designed to introduce them to different career fields. Scouts spend countless hours on these requirements and hone planning, leadership, teamwork and more critical skills.