The Brainerd VFW is hosting Red Cross blood drives on a regular basis. Here is your chance to give blood to help save a life. You don't have to be a member of the VFW, everyone is welcome. To make an appointment, go to https://www.redcrossblood.org You can also call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2763. To speed things up, fill out and print the Rapid Pass paperwork before you arrive. The Brainerd VFW is also a Red Cross blood draw location for the Brainerd Library, Good Samaritan, Ascensus, Mid-Minnesota Women's Center and Consolidated Telecommunications.
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Sterling Molby is the Brainerd VFW coordinator for blood drives. You can reach him at 218-851-1148.
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June 1, 2023: (l-r) Sterling Molby and the Brainerd VFW received awards for blood drives from Corey Boe, the local Red Cross blood drive account manager. The ceremony took place at the Northland Arboretum, honoring those who contribute in a big way. Sterling is a life member of the VFW.
Even Uncle Sam came in to donate blood!
Some say giving blood is a "weight-loss program." They are one pint lighter after donating blood! Photos below.
May 14, 2021: 56 units of blood were drawn at the Brainerd VFW Red Cross blood drive. It surpassed the goal of 53. Then 46 pints in July 2021.
Friday, July 31, 2020: One of those donating was Tammy Ebertowski of Brainerd. She is a patriotic person and member of the Brainerd VFW Auxiliary. Tammy dressed as Uncle Sam that day including a face mask with American flags! She also arranged for gift cards used in a drawing for blood donors that day. Some 49 pints of blood were donated that day. Lakeland Public TV was there for a story. https://lptv.org/brainerd-vfw-red-cross-come-together-to-host-blood-drive/
Local woman spotlights unity, patriotism at blood drive during pandemic (at the Brainerd VFW)
Tammy Ebertowski and friends are giving back to the communities in which they live.
Written By: Theresa Bourke | Brainerd Dispatch Apr 6th 2020 - 3am.
Tammy Ebertowski and friends are giving back to the communities in which they live.
Written By: Theresa Bourke | Brainerd Dispatch Apr 6th 2020 - 3am.
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Tammy Ebertowski, dressed up like the Statue of Liberty to show her support for the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic, gives blood at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Brainerd Friday, April 3. Cayman Loney-Adams, collection specialist II with the Red Cross, administers the donation. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch
As the American Red Cross faces a blood shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities to donate are popping up all over the lakes area.
One resident did her part to not only help with the shortage but thank others who did the same.
Tammy Ebertowski donated blood for the first time Friday, April 3, at the Brainerd Veterans of Foreign Wars. She also pooled money with some friends to purchase gift cards to local businesses for a drawing. Everyone who donated at the VFW drive Thursday and Friday got their name in the drawing for a gift card. Everyone who donated would most likely get a prize, she said. “We’re just being generous because we want to give back to our community and thank our heroes,” she said during a phone interview Tuesday, March 31. As a health care worker herself at Good Samaritan Society-Woodland in Brainerd, Ebertowski said she has been touched by everything going on right now and is grateful for the solidarity of the Brainerd lakes community.
“We’re all showing compassion and showing that we all care about each other and going out of the way to make a difference with all the health care doctors and nurses out there that are on the front lines,” she said. “... I just have been just totally amazed with how we've all come together just to unite with each other.”
But the gift cards weren’t the only unique elements Ebertowski brought to last week’s blood drive. While donating Friday, she flaunted an eye-catching Statue of Liberty costume. She said the outfit was a way to highlight the beautiful country she lives in. “I’m grateful for our freedoms that we still have in this day and age,” she said. And if all Ebertowski’s efforts helped save just one life, she said it was worth it.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at [email protected] or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.
As the American Red Cross faces a blood shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities to donate are popping up all over the lakes area.
One resident did her part to not only help with the shortage but thank others who did the same.
Tammy Ebertowski donated blood for the first time Friday, April 3, at the Brainerd Veterans of Foreign Wars. She also pooled money with some friends to purchase gift cards to local businesses for a drawing. Everyone who donated at the VFW drive Thursday and Friday got their name in the drawing for a gift card. Everyone who donated would most likely get a prize, she said. “We’re just being generous because we want to give back to our community and thank our heroes,” she said during a phone interview Tuesday, March 31. As a health care worker herself at Good Samaritan Society-Woodland in Brainerd, Ebertowski said she has been touched by everything going on right now and is grateful for the solidarity of the Brainerd lakes community.
“We’re all showing compassion and showing that we all care about each other and going out of the way to make a difference with all the health care doctors and nurses out there that are on the front lines,” she said. “... I just have been just totally amazed with how we've all come together just to unite with each other.”
But the gift cards weren’t the only unique elements Ebertowski brought to last week’s blood drive. While donating Friday, she flaunted an eye-catching Statue of Liberty costume. She said the outfit was a way to highlight the beautiful country she lives in. “I’m grateful for our freedoms that we still have in this day and age,” she said. And if all Ebertowski’s efforts helped save just one life, she said it was worth it.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at [email protected] or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa.
April 2020: 115 units of blood were donated and 49 more in July at the Brainerd VFW. Some 49 units of blood were drawn on February 9, 2021. More blood is needed to help victims of COVID-19.
Photos from previous blood draws at the Brainerd VFW. Some are from before COVID-19 and others during the pandemic:
