The American Red Cross was at Turkey Valley on Wednesday afternoon, April 8, for the 33rd annual blood drive sponsored by the Turkey Valley Education Association.
    TVEA Blood Drive coordinators were Patty O’Hollearn and Nancy Cuvelier, RN. Committee members included Angela Balk and Christie Schmitt. Former TVEA member Pat Lynch volunteered to oversee the blood drive.
    This year’s blood drive collected 112 pints of blood from 124 potential donors. Fifty-seven of the donors were Turkey Valley students. Three donors gave two units of red blood cells through an automated collection process called haemonetics.
    Congratulations to the following four donors who received gallon pins during the blood drive: Angie Busta of Waucoma-7 gallon, Carole Burke of Waucoma-6 gallon, Martin Ahrndt of Protivin-2 gallon, and Jenae Kuennen of West Union-1 gallon.
    Special thanks to the Turkey Valley National Honor Society members Ross Kurash, Elliot Reicks, Derek Kuennen, Tom Meirick, Megan Lukes, Samantha Humpal, Emily Bakula, Johanna Hageman, Karen Bouska, Jenna Martin, Natalie Busta, Hannah Lensing, Rebecca Cuvelier, Jessica Boyer, and Adam Best, who helped staff the donor room throughout the afternoon.
    The TVEA would like to thank Pat Lynch for all of her help in setting up the multi-purpose room.  Thanks also to members of the Jackson Homemakers Club who faithfully volunteer to work in the canteen area of the blood drive every year, serving homemade cookies and kolaches, and meat, cheese and crackers donated by local businesses.  The Jackson Homemakers included Alice Myers, Angie Busta, Ann Herold, Alice Kacher, Darlys Rausch, Sylvia Barloon and Barbara Jirak.  Thanks also to Mrs. Backy Neuzil for helping the Consumer Science/Foods students bake fresh kolaches that day.  Mrs. O’Hollearn’s students assisted with the forming of the kolaches and the baking and decorating of cookies as part of their learning experience.
    Special thanks is also extended to the following businesses for their donations of food for the canteen area, including Polashek’s Locker-Protivin, New Hampton Family Foods, Huber’s Store-Fort Atkinson, Fareway-New Hampton, H&H Distributing, Martin Brothers, and Swiss Valley Milk.  Thanks also to the administration, kitchen, secretarial and custodial staff for their assistance with the blood drive. But most importantly, thanks to the 124 individuals who showed up to give blood, the gift of life!