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In the suburban community of Bolingbrook, Illinois, a wave of altruism swept through as individuals gathered on Sunday for a significant cause: the WeLoveU Foundation’s blood drive. This initiative, a beacon of hope amid the holiday season, was organized in collaboration with the American Red Cross.
Winter is a challenging season for blood banks, as donations tend to decrease, yet the demand remains constant. Recognizing this critical need, the event aimed to collect 300 units of blood, providing a vital resource for those in need during this festive but often difficult time.
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The drive proved to be much more than just an ordinary event—it was a lifeline for many. Adam Bodrick, the assistant coordinator for volunteering at the International WeLoveU Foundation, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, especially when weather conditions lead to the cancellation of many blood drives. “Blood cannot be manufactured; it must be donated,” Bodrick explained. “During winter, many people opt to stay home due to weather conditions, which results in fewer donations. That’s why we reach out and stress the critical need for blood during this time.”
Despite the chill in the air, the spirit of giving warmed the hearts of those who participated, as volunteers and donors braved the elements to make a difference. Their contributions are a testament to the power of community and the impact of collective action in saving lives when it matters most.
“Many blood drives have been canceled due to weather so we’re really excited and thankful that many volunteers are coming out,” said Adam Bodrick, assistant coordinator for volunteering at International WeLoveU Foundation. “Blood, you can’t manufacture, it could only be given so during the winter time most people they wouldn’t either stay at home due to weather, and they don’t come out. So that’s why we make the call and say that there is a critical need.”
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Sunday morning, several people came out and rolled their sleeves in an effort to help out.
“Some of our volunteers have sickle disease so if you have sick disease, you definitely need a lot of blood,” Bodrick said. “So it’s really amazing because the people who are giving the blood at we love you volunteer foundation actually found out that they’re the ones that need it so it’s really amazing just to see that what their effort that they’re giving is actually coming back to them.”
It is also personal for Andrew Berryman, an account manager with the Red Cross, who says blood donations is the reason he is alive today.
“I went to get my tonsils taken out in 2012. I had an allergic reaction to the anesthesia. I had heart and lung failure,” Berryman said. “Doctors worked on me for 14 hours. Nothing worked. They pulled me into a machine called ECMO, which shuts off your heart and lungs takes her blood out of your body, oxygenates it and pumps it back in. I was on that for 52 hours until my femoral artery on my left leg tore. open. And when that happened, of course I needed blood.”
He hopes this inspires others to want to donate too.
“We can’t say thank you enough for people coming out here supporting,” Berryman said. “We love you being able to give to others and give their families more time together.”
