The Memorial Health Foundation donated $15,000 to the American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley to improve blood collecting. From left: Ashley Horbachewski, regional philanthropy partner, American Red Cross Central Appalachian Region; Julie Dye, donor and ambassador relations officer, Memorial Health Foundation; Bob Rauch, trustee, Memorial Health Foundation; Sharon Kesselring, executive director, American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley; Nick Sargent, account manager, American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley.

MARIETTA – The American Red Cross Ohio River Valley Chapter has received a $15,000 Community Impact grant to improve how blood is collected for local patients from the Memorial Health Foundation.

The contribution, made ahead of the summer months when the Red Cross often sees a dip in blood donations, helped the Red Cross purchase a mobile Power Red Machine that allows eligible donors to give two units of red blood cells in a single appointment. The technology doubles the impact of a donor and helps the Red Cross more efficiently meet patient needs for surgeries, trauma care and other emergencies.

The machine made one of its first appearances in the region on April 27 at Memorial Health System’s Belpre Medical Campus.

“Red cells are very important,” Sharon Kesselring, executive director of the American Red Cross Ohio River Valley Chapter, said. “As we’re coming into the summertime, we recognize already that there’s a bit of a strain on our blood supply.

“We need to make sure that we have a strong supply and that we’re always able to fill the orders that the hospitals ask of us.”

Memorial Health Foundation Trustee and long-time Red Cross blood donor Bob Rauch said he was glad the foundation could support the Red Cross in adding the Power Red machine to its toolkit for mobile blood drives.

“People often wonder how they can give back to their communities and serve others,” he said. “Giving blood is an easy way to do that, because it doesn’t cost you anything.”

The grant to the Red Cross was part of $95,000 in community grants awarded by the foundation in the past year.

“This was a natural fit, because we know, not only for Memorial Health System, but for our Community, how important it is to have a reliable supply of blood for those in surgery and emergencies,” Julie Dye, donor and ambassador relations officer for Memorial Health Foundation, said.

The support will help modernize the donation experience and benefit local patients,

Kesselring said.

“We really appreciate the fact that Memorial Health Foundation has made this generous donation to us and allowed us to help those who want to give the gift of life,” she said.

Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit regional health system led by a volunteer board of residents. It has more than 3,500 employees and operates three hospitals, outpatient service sites, provider clinics and a virtual urgent care app, MemorialCareNow.