Fleet Readiness Center East employees rolled up their sleeves to support National Blood Donor Month January 24, when the depot hosted a blood drive on behalf of the Armed Services Blood Program. FRCE employees responded enthusiastically, with more than 50 people giving blood.

ASBP arrived at the depot with two modified recreational vehicles containing all the equipment and people required to hold a full-scale blood drive. FRCE employees registered in advance to fill the available appointment slots, and walk-in donations were accepted as well.

Blood collected at ASBP drives is provided to deployed service members, military treatment centers, and military retirees and dependents. ASPB blood donor recruiter Wendy Binder said the program can only collect blood on federally owned property, so drives like the one at FRCE are crucial to fulfilling the ASBP mission.

“Without the participation of organizations like FRCE, battalions and schools, we wouldn’t be able to collect the blood that is needed to support our active duty, family member and retiree populations,” Binder said.

ASPB runs 20 blood donor centers worldwide, with the nearest facility located at Camp Lejeune.  This branch averages about 225 blood drives each year, collecting nearly 7,000 units of whole blood annually.

Hosting blood drives in locations convenient to potential donors helps make participation possible for people like Eric Yoerk, who works in FRCE’s valve shop and said he appreciates the convenience of donating blood at work.

“It just makes it easy, he said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for people to come out and give blood for people who need it.”

Commander Les Riggs, head of the Blood Services Department at Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, said donors are critical to the success of the ASBP. There are several moving parts involved in scheduling a blood drive, but donor participation is the key indicator of success.

“Putting all of those things together is critical to making it happen,” Riggs said. “But if the donors say ‘I’m not going to come,’ then nothing happens. It all starts with the donor.”

Christiana Callahan works as a mechanical engineer in the V-22 rotors Fleet Support Team. She said she appreciates knowing who will benefit from her donation.

“I like supporting the fleet any way I can,” she said. “I do that through my work, and blood donation is another way to give back.”

FRCE materials engineer Stephen Delsordo is a frequent blood donor. He said he donates whenever he can, because he has a personal tie to the armed services. 

“My little brother’s also in the armed forces -- he’s a Marine,” Delsardo said. “Same blood as me, so if he needs my blood, I’m glad to have it on file for him.”             

FRCE is North Carolina's largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,200 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $835 million. The depot generates combat air power for America’s Marines and naval forces while serving as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

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