A pint with a purpose

11/4/2026

A single blood donation takes only a short amount of time, but its impact can last much longer. Across generations, families and individuals continue to donate blood because they know their contribution could help someone they may never meet. It could even save a life. For some local donors, that simple act has become a lasting commitment to helping others.

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Bob and Celeste Gebhart

A lifetime of giving

Bob and Celeste Gebhart regularly donate blood at the LifeServe Blood Center on the south side of Des Moines. LifeServe provides blood used at local hospitals.

Both Bob and Celeste give blood because they consider it the right thing to do. It is a means of helping others, and they encourage those who are not currently donors to join the cause.

“Just go out and do it once,” Bob said. 

If you have a fear of needles, Bob suggests focusing on how you are helping someone out.

“Emergencies happen,” Celeste added. “There might be a future time in your life when you wish someone would help you out. It is so easy, simple and life-giving. I wish more people did it.”

Matthews’ relatively new commitment and the Gebharts’ decades of donating reflect the many ways people can become part of the blood donation community. Whether someone donates every eight weeks or whenever a drive comes along, each donation adds to a supply that may one day be needed to save someone else’s life or aid in their treatment. For these donors, giving blood is a simple way to turn a small amount of time into an opportunity to help another person.

Source: Indianola Living, October 2026; by Rachel Harrington

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Abby Thiele

Family donors

Abby Thiele started donating blood in high school after growing up with a parent who was a regular donor. Every time she donates, she posts a picture and status on her Facebook profile encouraging her friends to consider donating.

“From my posts, I’ve gotten a couple of friends to donate in their local area, a friend to sign up and donate with me, and a friend to come along and watch my donation to get more comfortable with the idea of donating before signing up,” she said.

Her dad started donating because his mother required several units of blood while hospitalized. Donating blood is one way he chooses to honor her memory while helping save the lives of those who need blood today.

Thiele never had the chance to meet either of her grandparents on her dad’s side, but she saw the impact they had on him through his actions of helping others, including how he made time in his busy schedule to regularly donate blood.

“I consider myself to be a helper, and helping others through blood donation is just one small way I can give back. It’s a bucket filler for me to take about an hour of my day every eight weeks and make an impact in someone’s life during what could be a really challenging time for them.”

Source: Ankeny Living, October 2026; by Ashley Rullestad

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Scott Schaffer

A family affair

For Angie Schaffer and her family, donating blood is simply part of who they are.

Schaffer and her husband, Scott, have embraced blood donation as a family tradition. Angie and Scott have each been donating for roughly 25 years, while Scott alone has contributed more than six gallons of blood over the years.

“When I asked Scott why he started donating in high school he said, ‘Because I could. A lot of people can’t, and most people don’t,’ ” Schaffer said.

Angie herself began donating after learning she was a universal donor.

“Knowing my blood gets used most in emergency situations compelled me to do what I can,” she said. “And Phoebe also happens to be a universal donor. She was really nervous about the process because she is quite squeamish but she has decided it’s not so bad.”

“We’ve always been a family big on doing whatever you can to help others,” Angie said. “I don’t want to think about anyone I love ever being in a situation where they need blood, but I know, if that day comes, I want there to be blood on hand. That’s our why — it’s the right thing to do.”

For the Schaffers, donating blood is less about recognition and more about responsibility. It is one of the simplest ways they know to support people facing difficult circumstances.

Source: North Polk Living, Oct. 2026; by Lindsey Giardino

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Brandi Fett

Passionate about donating

Brandi Fett had donated blood before, but she did not become a consistent donor until after a national tragedy. She was living in Mitchellville, and a local blood drive was organized after the Sept. 11 attacks. 

“I think that’s when I started doing it consistently,” she said.

Her blood type also helped motivate her continued donations. Fett has O negative blood so is considered a universal donor.

“They very much like my blood,” she said. “I can give my blood to everybody.”

Fett has donated more than 6 gallons of blood, and she encourages others to make time to donate.

“It’s really not a hard thing to do,” Fett said. “It’s one of the things you can do that will help several people. You never know who will need that blood. It could be your mom, your son, anybody who gets in an accident. You never know when it could affect you or a family member.”

The ease of donating makes it appealing, she said, adding that it only takes an hour, and the actual drawing of blood is a shorter part of the process. ♦

Source: Altoona Living, October 2026; by Sean Dengler