Bleeding hearts of Fullerton give back: The American Red Cross’ work at “Love Fullerton”

bkillman

June 1, 2018

By: Annette Valderrama

On a Saturday in late April, Fullerton area residents volunteered for community service projects that included installing drought-resistant landscaping, providing spa services to clients at a homeless shelter and donated blood to the American Red Cross.

The volunteer work was all part of “Love Fullerton,” a city-wide service day that helps people in need in the area. It is organized by OC United, a non-profit organization that brings cities together to serve their community.

We visited the church where the Red Cross was stationed to provide readers with a peek of “Love Fullerton.”

An American Red Cross sign stands outside EvFree Church, encouraging citizens of Fullerton to give blood to the Red Cross as part of “Love Fullerton,” a city-wide serve day. (Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)

“This is our mobile operation..[It’s] a lot smaller and a lot harder to get donors in,” said Jacquelyn R. Herrera, the American Red Cross accounts manager. (Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)

Herrera stands outside an area where Red Cross representative speak with blood donors. “It’s my job to coordinate enough blood drives to make sure that we have enough blood in inventory to [meet the needs of] local hospitals,” she said. (Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)

Karina Heredia, a local high school student, gets her blood drawn from the nurses. “My experience with giving blood that day went super well, the people there were really sweet and caring,” she said. (Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)

Water bottles and snacks help keep the volunteers hydrated and nourished. (Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)

Nurses keep volunteers calm as they give blood to the American Red Cross. (Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)

“[This] is where we do the health histories. [We] make sure that they are okay and healthy to donate,” said Cheryl Terlecki a nurse for the American Red Cross.(Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)

Boxes of blood will be given to local hospitals in Orange County. (Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)

“It’s an incredible opportunity to know when you donate blood you can impact up to three lives,” said Brandon Morales the marketing and communications manager. (Photo by Annette Valderrama/Inside Fullerton)