Michele Vanderyacht donates blood at each of Epic Fitness’ blood drives. (Courtesy/ Michele Vanderyacht)
Michele Vanderyacht was preparing for Epic Fitness’ 27th blood drive when the coronavirus pandemic hit.
With the gym closed on March 21, Vanderyacht was unsure the planned event, set for Friday, May 15 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., would go ahead as scheduled.
She has been managing the south Salem gym since 2014 and normally plans blood drives about a year in advance.
Vanderyacht said one of the best parts of her job is the ability to give back to the community she’s lived in for 45 years. She donates blood at each of the gym’s blood donation events and hosts a pajama drive each year.
She contacted city officials in early April, eager to find out if people could still give blood while standing a six-foot distance from each other at the gym located at 706 Madrona Ave. S.E.
Vanderyacht said she immediately got a “yes.”
“It was one of the quickest responses from the city that I’ve ever had,” she joked.
Vanderyacht spent weeks cleaning the facility and got the green light to host the drive, crucial at a time when hundreds of blood drives have been canceled statewide, leading the Red Cross to declare a blood shortage in March.
Red Cross spokeswoman Christine Welch said blood drives like Vanderyacht’s account for a large portion of donations.
“Because more than 80% of blood donations are made at blood drives hosted by volunteers, blood drive partners like Epic Fitness play a vital role in helping the Red Cross ensure blood is available for patients,” Welch said in an email.
For Friday’s event, there’s room for 25 people to sign up and people must wear masks when they donate.
“It doesn’t cost you anything but a little bit of time,” Vanderyacht said.
She said typically the seniors who frequent the gym would sign up for the blood drives, which the gym usually holds every eight weeks, but many are staying home now.
Peter Norkeveck, Salem Red Cross donor center coordinator, said blood donation numbers have leveled out in recent weeks after the shortage when stay-home orders were first announced.
He said fewer donors are coming into the center on Hawthorne Avenue as they normally would, leaving a dire need for platelets. Those draws take about two and a half hours and have to be done at the 1860 Hawthorne Ave. N.E. location.
Platelets have a shorter shelf life and last only five days compared to red blood cells, which can last 42 days.
During blood drives, Red Cross is taking temperatures, making sure everyone is wearing a mask and sanitizing frequently.
“Don’t be afraid to come to a blood drive and don’t be afraid to come to the donor center,” Norkeveck said.
He said some people are waiting for the end of pandemic restrictions to donate blood again.
“Now with this COVID-19 thing going on, folks need to keep in mind there’s other things that are happening. People get in accidents or people need transfusions. Premature babies need platelets,” he said.
The donation center is also collecting plasma from patients who have recovered from the coronavirus. The plasma is processed through a lab and used to help treat COVID-19 patients.
People wanting to sign up for the blood drive can visit redcrossblood.org and enter EpicFitness. Friday, May 15 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Epic Fitness, 706 Madrona Ave. S.E.
Have a tip? Contact reporter Saphara Harrell at 503-549-6250, [email protected] or @daisysaphara.
