Margaret was born and raised in Oregon, but has made Buffalo her “home away from home” since she moved here in 2014.
With all of the chaos happening in our world, Margaret was feeling how most people are feeling - fearful and powerless. That’s when she heard of the blood shortage in Western New York, which inspired her to donate blood.
She decided she would donate whole blood during the U Evolve Buffalo blood drive where she teaches a cardio dance class once a week (when businesses are open as usual, that is!)
Hear from Margaret about her experience…
This wasn't the first blood drive that U Evolve Buffalo has hosted, but I have never truly felt comfortable giving blood before, so this was my first time.
Donating blood helped me feel like I was contributing, even in my own small way, to provide aid to my community. The staff on the ConnectLife bus were all incredible, supportive, and calming and helped make my experience wonderful- especially considering how nervous I was! I am so glad that I made the choice to donate.
I'm a super squeamish person and am known to get faint at the sight of blood. I even told Jill, one of the owners of U Evolve Buffalo, after I signed up that I wouldn't be surprised if I passed out while giving blood; the one and only other time I volunteered to donate blood I ended up passing out at the mere thought of it hours before my actual appointment!!
We asked Margaret, what she would say to someone, like herself, that wants to give back and donate blood but is scared, this is she had to say...
I was very, very nervous, but everybody is very kind, helpful, and reassuring! You can do it! It ran very smoothly, the phlebotomists were very friendly and it was over before I knew it.
