Tar Valon Blood Drive 2018 Announcement!

The link for the new form is: https://goo.gl/forms/s8ipBZeJ4kcVzf1f2

For many years now, TarValon.Net, Inc has sought meaningful ways to respond to tragedies around that world. Many times as a community we have asked, "What we can do?" As an administration we've found that an annual blood drive is the best way to respond.

In 2013 in the aftermath of the Boston Bombing, we ran a Blood Drive. There were a lot of participants, but not all could during the time that it was running because they donated at a different time of the year. Nevertheless the blood drive served to support those in crisis, and helped our community with a sense of purpose. The 2013 blood drive served as a launching pad for the TarValon.net Annual Blood Drive. Donating blood saves lives, and in the aftermath of tragedies having well stocked blood banks can make all the difference.

Every year since 2013 we have provided an annual blood drive to support those that give blood regularly and to encourage new donators. We recognize that this isn’t for everyone, and not everyone is able to give blood. Yet there are those that can. One of the problems that most Blood Banks run into is that people only give blood after major disasters, and usually just the once. Blood is often needed year round for minor tragedies that we never even know about. It has a short shelf life and when a major crisis hits they need every drop. TarValon.net's year-long event is designed to address these needs so that, as a community, we are preparing instead of reacting.

All donations beginning January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 can be reported using the following form:
>>FORM<<


Data collected with this form is intended to get an accurate count of donated pints throughout 2018, you will notice only four required questions. Also, we've included a section where you can share what blood bank you donated to! This information will be used to help other members locate a local blood bank they can donate to.

Blood Drive Basics:

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  • For members based in the US you can find your local donations centers through the Red-Cross Blood Bank.
  • Canadian members, you can find your local blood donations centers through Canadian Blood Services.
  • UK members can find local locations for blood donation through the National Blood Service.
  • TarValon.Net members in South Africa can also find information on blood donations through the South Africa National Blood Service.
  • Australian members can check out the Australian Red Cross Blood Service for donation information.
  • Members in New Zealand can also check out donation resources through the New Zealand Blood Service.
  • Members in the Netherlands can take part in registering or donating blood through the Sanquin Blood Supply.
  • My German isn’t good, but if you’re in Germany and looking to donate a pint, the German Red Cross should be able to point you in the right direction.
  • Members in Norway wanting to give, remember to thank Ilissa for this tip, and check out this link to register and donate!

We also have a few blood drive icons that you can place in the post if you wish. They are (without the spaces)

: blood1 :blood1
: blood2 :blood2

Glad to see this! :joy

I probably won't be able to donate until November, because tattoos, but I'm excited!!

Very cool!

I'm indefinitely deferred, but thanks for all of you who do donate! :joy

I will be working on other mini pop ups with my team besides this one. We are working on other ways to highlight in the community.

I'll likely choose not to donate again(for reasons ) until October, but I've already done one, so that might make 2 this year. We'll see.
Also, thanks to all donors. I know many people that choose not to donate because they get nervous around needles. I'd like to see them power through that, unless it was a phobia or something, I'm a little more sensitive towards that. But alas, one can only do so much.

I'm working on getting in contact with the Red Cross to see whether or not there's a way to verify whether or not I can come off the "unsafe" list. :rolleyes

Anyone who has already donated this year can enter their information into the form retroactively. We still want to count your donations from January 1st until now!
I am sorry it took us a while to get an updated drive going for 2018. :$

We're just glad to have it.

I donated for the first time this year on March 5, and it went just fine, thankfully. This time we found out I have much more accessible veins in my left arm - no one's even looked at it in the 10 years since I first became a donor, just kept going with the same old right. :P #AWholeNewWorld

That seems silly that they wouldn't have even tried!
I am very glad you were able to donate, and that it went well! :joy
Donating all year is so important, and I am so proud to be part of the Blood Drive here at TarValon.net. Even if I am one of those who is unable to donate.

Thank you to everyone who has donated!

I need to go in and try again now that my iron's had time to recover. Worried it still might be too low, though.

I understand how you feel.
When I first donated, my hemoglobin reading was at 16.something. Now it's usually in the 13 area. Still good enough that they pester me Power Red, or something other, but I still try to be careful.

Cooking on cast iron skillets is also a great way to help bolster iron intake

Is that for real? :scratch If so, that's pretty neat.

If you're getting iron in your food from your cast iron pan, you haven't seasoned your pan properly

Someone actually did a study on it, and you do indeed get some dietary iron from a cast iron pan. It looks like they tested newer vs older pans, but I'm not sure how they were seasoning them.

Interesting. I'd like to see that study replicated and variables for seasoning accounted for. Theoretically, if your pan is well seasoned, your food never actually touches the iron.