After nearly six decades of volunteering for the American Red Cross, Cindy Anderson from Northfield, Minnesota, is passing the baton. When asked why now, Cindy, 90, said, “It’s time for a change. My mind is good, but my body is feeling its age – that pretty much sums it up!”
Not many people can say they’ve been with an organization for nearly 60 years, but Cindy can.
Recruited as a Red Cross volunteer in 1967 when she first moved to Northfield, she has since helped organize blood drives and recruit volunteers. With a background in pediatric nursing, she found a fit as a nurse volunteer at Red Cross blood drives, taking donors’ vital statistics like blood pressure and temperature. She continued to recruit other nurse volunteers until the Red Cross transitioned this role to a staff position.
Cindy’s role within the Red Cross evolved over the years, but one constant remained – the need for blood and volunteers. “Blood is always needed,” Cindy emphasizes. What began as two blood drives a year turned into 16 blood drives at multiple Northfield locations, including Culver’s, the Northfield Ballroom, various churches, and FiftyNorth Senior Center. “My husband has been encouraging me to step back for a couple of years,” Cindy shares with a giggle. “It’s finally time.”
The blood drives Cindy has helped organize have undoubtedly been responsible for thousands of blood donations helping countless patients in need of lifesaving blood products. One of her most memorable experiences was meeting a local blood donor whose wife and daughter both relied on monthly infusions that provided antibodies from the blood of healthy donors. “It’s so important. Someone right in our community relies heavily on blood donation every month,” she says.
When asked about the number of blood drives she’s helped organize and the number of volunteers she’s recruited, she chuckled and said, “I don’t want to take the time to figure that out!”
(Pictured left to right: Sandy Pieri, Cindy Anderson, and Merilyn Calcutt)
Merilyn Calcutt, who has served as a greeter for blood drives at FortyNorth and worked alongside Cindy for the past 12 years since her own retirement, is now taking over as the blood program leader for that location. “It literally took three people to replace Cindy,” she exclaimed.
Sandy Pieri, another Red Cross disaster and blood drive volunteer, seconds that. “Cindy will be missed – it took three of us to cover what she did.”
But Cindy humbly replies, “It really doesn’t seem like much.”
Cindy’s third replacement, Barb Garbowski, will take over the drives at Culver’s. “Culver’s is a great partner and helps maintain a strong donor base in Northfield because were able to hold blood drives there every month,” Cindy adds. “And the ‘pint for a pint’ coupon is such a sweet way to thank the blood donors.”
Barbara Swartwoudt, a blood donor, and long-time friend of Cindy’s, agrees. “We will miss Cindy at the blood drives – she was always pleasant and welcoming.”
Cindy and her husband recently sold their home and moved to an assisted living facility in Northfield. Cindy looks forward to doing crossword puzzles and reading more now that she’ll have some extra time on her hands. She also hopes to spend more time with her four children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandsons.
“I will miss the people,” says Cindy.
“We’re so grateful for Cindy’s 57 years of service with the Red Cross,” says Dayna Steinke, donor recruitment account manager, Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region. “Cindy is an exceptionally generous person. Without dedicated volunteers like Cindy, we would not be able to fulfill our lifesaving mission.”
Join us in sending Cindy off with warm wishes and immense gratitude for her dedicated years of service!
Be like Cindy! You can support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross by becoming a blood drive volunteer. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in, and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience. Visit RedCross.org/GiveTime to sign up today!
Make an appointment to give blood or platelets now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Story by Sue Thesenga, Communications Manager, Minnesota and Dakotas Region.
American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region 