Of course they do good work, and I suppose I should be grateful that I’m allowed to donate blood, but I’ll tell you what: it would be really nice if American Red Cross would quit calling me to ask me to make appointments to donate.
I don’t know how many times I’ve already told them that I will not drive out to Rockville on a Saturday, because I’ve already been turned away once due to low iron, and I will not repeat the experience of having to drive on the Beltway up to Montgomery County (aka MoCo) and back for no reason.
I know I’ve already told them at least once, probably twice, that I cannot make an appointment during the workweek unless the blood drive is in my work neighborhood, because, again: I will not miss work and risk getting turned away.
Finally, I’ve decided that it isn’t in my interest to make an appointment for a blood drive even if it’s convenient, because the last time I made an appointment, they kept me waiting about 40 minutes past my time to donate. Why, you ask? Because they got a late start and were backed up. IOW: I made an appointment, got there on time, and still had to wait just as long as everyone else because folks were disorganized. The lesson I learned was that I might as well just walk in any old time, because I’m going to wait around either way.
I’m a “once bit, forever shy” type of person.
I’ve told them all this, and yet…they keep calling my phone to tell me about all the blood drives coming up (none of which are convenient for me), or ask me to come up to the Donation Center in Rockville (…), like there’s nothing the least bit inconvenient with any of these options.
These all sound like minor inconveniences, and admittedly, having to wait past my appointment time is more of a “My towering ego, let me show you it!” issue, but notice that we’re talking about something in which I get nothing but attention. They want my blood. They want me to make sure I’m well-nourished, hydrated and sober at the time of donation, and then they want me to spend the rest of the day drinking water and taking it easy. I don’t think it’s too much to ask that the donation process fit easily into my schedule.
