Throughout the week, our ACC Team searches through emails and news articles looking for someone who deserves to be the Hero of the Week… Find out how you can nominate a Hero of the Week at the bottom of the page.
This week, we honor veteran Don Schaefer, of Charleston, Illinois. Don served overseas in Germany back in the 1950s. It was then that he started donating blood. As a recruit, he was helping with the blood shortage during the war.
Since then, he’s donated 50 gallons and two pints of blood to the Red Cross through the years. The Red Cross honored Don with his own plaque and banner. But, for Don, it’s all about saving lives.
Don said that the Red Cross told him for every pint he’s donated he’s helped save the lives of three people! And, now he can trace where his blood donations go – his last donation made it to Nashville, Tennessee.
The average person donates once a year, but you can do donations every 56 days and that’s what Don has been doing. He says that he’ll continue to do as long as he can and hopes that his story will inspire others to donate blood.
Learn more about Don’s story as covered by Charleston’s WAND TV.
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Kix’s Response:
Wow – that’s a lot of blood, Don! It’s a tremendous thing you’re doing… Don Schaefer, you are our ACC Hero of the Week!
Nominate a Hero of the Week
Now, we want to know who has made a difference in your life. Nominate a local firefighter, police officer, EMT or someone who is serving our country in the military. It could even be a neighbor, family member or friend who lent a crucial helping hand. Let us know all about the person who you feel is a real life hero by emailing us here and please feel free to send us a picture!