OKEECHOBEE – Susan, Jose, Matthew, JoAnn, baby Lucy and Ralph all would like to thank Okeechobee’s blood donors for coming out to the 85 Units for 85 Years Blood Drive Saturday, January 30.

Of course, those names are meant to represent a small part of the people whose names Raulerson Hospital could not release for this article. Raulerson staff is doing an amazing job keeping up not only with COVID patients, but also with those suffering cancer, heart attack, auto accidents, a broken leg and many, many other critical cases.

The need for blood never stops, yet blood donation numbers have dropped more than 20% since COVID began, while the need has continued to increase. Would it make a difference if the need lay in your family? With your child? With your grandparent? Would You then donate?

Susan, Jose, Matthew, JoAnn, baby Lucy and Ralph are all part of someone’s family – maybe your neighbor’s, your pastor’s, your friend’s…your child.

The 85/85 blood drive was a beautiful party. While many people made appointments which helped them get on the bus more quickly, we are also thankful for all who were “walk-ups,” who stopped when they saw six Big Red Buses in the theater lot.

Thank you to all who came and gave and those who came but were deferred. That happens, but the desire to donate was wonderful, the drive was a success and more blood was drawn than One Blood expected. 57 people donated a total of 77 blood products (platelets, plasma, red cells and whole blood) in just six hours.

The 85th Birthday Drive was a success. It may not have reached the hoped-for number, but the donors who came gave the promise of a future to at least seventy plus people. It was a day well spent. Thank you to all who donated. But,if You have not yet donated, please find a drive and learn what a wonderful feeling it is to save a life.

• Number of donors 57

Editor's note: The Okeechobee Community celebrated Raye Deusinger's 85th birthday with a drive-by celebration.