Dear American Red Cross,
July 7, 2010I am a busy lady. I work full time and when I’m not at work I’m chasing my 1 and 3 year old boys around the house. So. If you want my blood, I am happy to donate it.
When you tell me that I can’t lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 6 hours after donating blood, I believe you. I don’t want to rearrange my entire day around a blood donation but I do. I do it because I believed that you needed it. That there are people in dire need of donated blood. I don’t particularly enjoy the arm stick or the colossal amount of time it takes for a 15 minute donation, but I do it because I thought it was a good thing, something to help the greater good.
Advertising a blood drive at a local church and then changing the location at the last minute with just a sign on the door? Not cool. But, I had reserved my 1 hour lunch break for blood donation, so I hopped in my car and drove to your updated location. Only to find out that if I didn’t make an appointment (who the hell makes an appointment to donate blood?) then you can’t see me until 3:45. Well guess what? I’ve already wasted my lunch break trying to find you. I don’t have time to go back at 3:45. And after work? I’ll have 2 kids with me, and as the oh-so-unfriendly sign on the side of your mobile unit says, they aren’t allowed in the bus (not that I would be insane enough to try to take them with me in the first place).
That sucked, wasting my lunch break for that. But you know what really, really pisses me off? The fact that you called my cell phone and asked me to come to this blood drive. You. Called. Me. You asked for my blood. You gave me the date, time and location and asked me to come. What the hell is wrong with you??? You ask me to come, and even though I had to jump through hoop after hoop I went. And when I finally got there, you told me thanks but no thanks.
Well screw you. It’s going to be a few cycles before I’m willing to consider jumping through your hoops again. And if you are brave enough to actually call me again, be prepared for a lengthy rant on your inconsiderate and rude business practices.
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I think you should print it and send:-) It would have got me pretty mad too!!!!!!
Hehe, I did email them with a link to this post, but have not received a response.
On a side note, last night while listening to voicemail messages Zach found one that the Red Cross left on Monday – a second phone request from them asking me to stop by the Congregational Church on the 7th between noon and 5pm. TWO requests for the wrong location and incorrect time. Way to go Red Cross.
I found your blog while googling something else. I love your writing style. It’s so much like mine. Do you still work for New Hampshire DFYS?
Hi Sara,
On behalf of the American Red Cross, I apologize for the lack of notification you received about the Plymouth blood drive.
Due to the high temperatures predicted for that day, a last minute decision was made to move the bus to Hannaford and utilize our air-conditioned bus.
We were able to geet the word out to some donors but we obviosly get not get it out to all (via phone call).
In the future if this situation crops up again (last minute ste change of a blood drive), we will broaden our notification process by utilizing broadcast voice mail.
Again, I am sorry for your aggrevation. Your feedback has been very helpful and changes have been made.
Sincerely,
John Peterson
American Red Cross
Manager – Donor Recruitment
425 Reservoir Ave.
Manchester, NH 03104
603-625-1951
Hi John,
Thank you for your response – a broadcast voice message certainly would have been useful. I hope the next time I decide to donate the Red Cross is able to accept it.
The Red Cross is an inefficient legacy organization that needs to be disbanded. They cannot help local people in need any longer and only want cash donations (so that can skim $$ off the top). They no longer take food or clothing for people in need – because they can’t skim from that. Boycott the Red Cross!