October 28, 2024 • 24 mins
What happens when a community unites to support life-saving initiatives? Join us as we explore this compelling question with Kevin Taylor from the Palm Springs Sunup Rotary Club, alongside Kim Bollinger from Lifestream Blood Bank and Yvonne Moreno of Hanson House. Discover the importance of local blood donations, particularly in the holiday season when supplies run low, and how you can participate in the upcoming blood drive on November 9th at the Doubletree by Hilton in Cathedral City. Gain insider knowledge from Kim on the donation process, from the mini physical to health questionnaires, and understand the direct impact your contribution has on Southern California hospitals.
Kevin, Kim, and Yvonne also delve into the extraordinary services provided by Hanson House, a beacon of hope for patients and families in the Coachella Valley. As they share stories of serene Spanish-style accommodations and holistic healing environments, you'll learn how community support helps sustain these vital resources. Hear how Rotary Clubs are playing a pivotal role in enhancing health resources through collaborative efforts. Whether you're a Rotarian or a community member, this podcast invites you to become a hero of hope and make a tangible difference this holiday season.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Rotary Heroes of Hope podcast.
I'm your host, judy Zolfakar,proudly serving as the current
district governor for RotaryDistrict 5330.
Co-hosting with me is JamieZinn, our esteemed immediate
past district governor.
Heroes of Hope brings to lightthe remarkable stories of impact
from Rotarians within ourdistrict.
Our episodes shine a spotlighton transformative community
(00:23):
projects taking root in ourregion and extend their reach to
initiatives making waves on aglobal scale.
Each story is a testament tothe profound influence Rotarians
exert on the lives ofindividuals and communities we
are committed to serving.
Join us in this inspiringjourney.
Dive deeper into the world ofRotary with us and witness
firsthand the extraordinary waysin which Rotary touches lives,
and witness firsthand theextraordinary ways in which
(00:45):
Rotary touches lives andreshapes our world.
Welcome to the Rotary Heroes ofHope podcast, where hope takes
center stage and the heroes arethe Rotarians among us, turning
vision into action.
Well, how are you doing today,judy?
I'm doing great.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Good to see you, jamie.
Yes, absolutely, and we'regoing to have a great
conversation with our friendsfrom the desert who are
experiencing some cooler weathertoday.
That's awesome.
They're going to be awesome.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Yeah, we have a lot to talk about today, so we're
going to get right in it.
Kevin, thank you and welcome.
By the way, just a side note,kevin does all of our scheduling
for our podcast.
So thank you, thank you, thankyou for making, helping our
guests get to us and feel soprepared and welcome, and it's a
pleasure to be able to talkwith you today.
So why don't you introduceyourself and tell us what we're
(01:32):
talking about?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Thank you both very much.
So I'm Kevin Taylor from thePalm Springs Sunup Rotary Club.
We meet Tuesday mornings atseven o'clock, and with us today
online are Kim Bollinger fromLifestream, and that's the blood
bank, and also Yvonne Morenofrom Hanson House, and they'll
talk more about that.
But we have put together aholiday blood drive for our
(02:00):
district and hopefully everyonecan come out and help roll up
their sleeves and donate bloodon Saturday, november 9th.
It's going to be held at theDoubletree by Hilton Hotel in
Cathedral City and many of ourRotarians may remember that
because it used to be the Doraland that's where we used to have
our district conferences forseveral years, and so one of our
newest Rotarians in our clubhappens to be the general
manager there and her name isEbony Stinson and she's been so
delightful to host us.
(02:21):
We just did one last month andwe're going to do the one in
November.
So we'll be back.
But this time we're doingsomething different and in
addition to the blood drive,we're looping in Hanson house,
and Yvonne can talk about thatin just a second.
But we're doing a drive as wekind of enter into the holiday
season to help fill theirpantries, and so that's a little
bit about what we're doing, andwe want to invite all the
(02:42):
Rotarians from the district, oras many as possible, to come and
help save lives because, as Kimwill mention in a couple
minutes, the holiday season isreally, really important for
getting blood into the bloodbank so that we can use it for
people who need it.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So tell us is Kim going to start off with, and let
us know exactly how the livestream works and how people can
sign up to come out and do thisfor us.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Hello, hi, thank you so much for having me.
I'm so happy to be here withyou guys today.
So I am with Lifestream BloodBank.
We are out of San Bernardino,california.
We're a regional blood bank.
We service and work with 80hospitals within our region.
When you donate with LifestreamBlood Bank, your donation stays
here within the SouthernCalifornia region.
(03:28):
We don't ship it off anywhere.
We are currently working withthe Sunrise Sunup Rotary Club
here in Palm Springs.
We're so proud of ourpartnership.
We had a very productive drivethis last month and raised was
it seven hundred dollars, Ibelieve, for the club and for
the services that they're goingto provide to your local
(03:50):
community.
So we're hoping to do thatagain in november and um
bringing another non-profit, avery worthy organization, on
board, and we're just lookingforward to being able to service
the hospitals, keep the bloodon the shelves Summer, this
summer in particular, where theheat has been difficult on our
(04:11):
equipment and people don't liketo come out and donate.
Sometimes when it's a littlewarm, it's uncomfortable.
So as we head into fall, peopleare back from vacation, schools
are back in session, so we'rehoping that everybody will come
out and participate.
It's so important to to donateblood and to make sure that we
have the resources we need forthe people who desperately are
(04:34):
in need of it.
So we just so much appreciatekevin and all his good works and
couldn't ask for a betterpartner, a better sponsor.
He's just so enthusiastic, asyou know, but yeah, we're
looking forward to a verysuccessful event.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So tell us, Kim, what could someone expect when they
come out to give blood.
So we know that they'll show upthere, but what should they
expect the process to be?
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Well, what's nice about donating blood is you do a
little mini physical, youanswer a health questionnaire so
we have a general idea of whatthe status of your health is,
but then we check your ironlevel and we make sure that your
efficiency as far as iron goesis at a good level for donation.
You got your blood pressurechecked and your temperature,
(05:24):
your heart rate, and again youget a little mini physical, and
so that's another perk, alongwith I think we're giving away a
t-shirt this time around, sothat'll be also an added benefit
.
But you come in, you fill out aform, we give you a physical.
The actual donation processitself only takes about 10
(05:48):
minutes 10 to 12 minutesdepending on the individual and
then, when you're done, we setyou up, we give you a snack, we
keep an eye on you for a fewminutes to make sure that you're
good to go.
Doesn't take longer than maybe40 minutes, and you save three
lives, so you don't wake upevery Saturday morning and do
that.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Well, that's a well spent 40 minutes, right, if
you're saving lives.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
I like to say, especially during the holiday
season give the gift that keepson giving.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
There's nothing more important than helping others
and giving back to yourcommunity, so what a great way
to do that.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
And it is a great way also just because a lot of
people you know, when you talkabout giving back to your
communities, it's very easy forpeople to write a check.
This is a great way because youcan't manufacture blood so to be
able to give that gift ofsomeone who you may never even
know.
And then the other thing I justwant to jump in and because kind
of Kim didn't mention it yet,but you know, when we have
(06:45):
catastrophes or really solidemergencies where people run to
the blood bank because the bloodis, you know, I'm going to go
donate blood because I need itthere right now, there's a three
day process.
It doesn't just show up on theshelf the same day you donate it
.
So that's why donating blood isreally important, to do that on
a regular basis, because ifthere's a major earthquake and
they need the blood supply, it'snot going to happen the day you
(07:06):
donate it.
And we want to be, you know,thinking forward and not having
to be reactionary, saying, oh myGod, we're low.
And then the other thing thathappens too is that if they are
low on blood supplies, then thehospitals may have to cancel
some procedures because there'snot enough to go through with an
operation or something likethat.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
They have to prioritize.
It was interesting we had on apodcast earlier our community
services person, chuck Weisbart,and talking about how to
prepare for disaster right andall the different things that
you can do, and it's interestingthat I didn't even think about
this one in that part of thepreparation is to give blood
often so that there is not acrisis when there is a crisis,
(07:48):
because when there's a crisis,because when there's a crisis,
there's oftentimes not theability to give blood and, like
you said, not the timing,because if it takes three days
to turn it around, then that'snot going to be very helpful
when we're in the middle of anearthquake or a fire.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
So I really like the collaboration that I'm seeing
here, also with Rotary, with theBlood Bank.
And can we have Yvonne talk alittle bit about Hanson House
and how Hanson House comes intothis particular event and this
day and how you guys are allcollaborating together?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Absolutely Well.
Hello, my name is Yvonne Moreno, the Executive Director of
Hanson House, and, as I'msitting here and hearing already
the information that is beingshared, you're right, it is a
great collaboration that we havehere with the Rotary and also
with the Bled Blank Hanson House.
As you know, we are anaffordable lodging facility, a
(08:46):
home away from home, and weprovide affordable, cost to no
cost rooms for cancer patientswhen they are undergoing
treatment, as well as familiesthat have a loved one in trauma
or a baby in NICU.
They stay with us for sometimesan average of seven to nine
(09:09):
days to.
We've seen certain, you know,situations where we've had
families there to up to six toseven months, and how we all
collaborate is that one.
We all know that the patientsthat stay with us, which are our
guests, but also going to thecancer center to get their
treatment, they also rely onthat blood from the blood bank.
(09:32):
And for us, you know, with thecollaboration that Kevin, of
course, you know who I adore fordoing this already of the food
drive for us.
We serve families and right nowwe're coming off of this, this
high demand, where we hadfamilies from all over of the
(09:53):
east valley and beyond, whereour pantry couldn't even stay
stocked for an average of fivedays, and that said a lot to me
and so I started working andoutreaching, you know, for for
us to continue to serve andprovide a full pantry to the
families.
So all of our efforts togetheris basically the collaborative
(10:17):
effort.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Just one thing too, just so you know, the House is
actually located on the campusof Desert Regional Medical
Center, so they are adjacent tothe hospital.
So those families who have, youknow, patients staying in the
hospital, whether they're inNICU or in cancer, can literally
walk across the parking lotfrom Hanson House and be with
them by their side.
And to Yvonne's point as well,they do, you know, if they have
(10:41):
someone lifelighted in for atrauma, injury or emergency.
That's another great way,because not everyone can afford,
you know, to be able to afforda hotel and you know, like she
said, it could be a week long ormaybe months long, depending on
the severity of the situationand the person in the trauma
unit.
But it's, they are right on thecampus of Desert Regional
Medical Center.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
And you know, and, as you guys, then need listening
to your guys' stories as well weare also a center, and a lot of
folks don't know this becausewe are a gem in the desert, but
we are very unique in thehealthcare community.
Especially for like emergencies, for situations with the crisis
(11:25):
, especially in Big Bear, we had, you know, people that were
being relocated.
Well, for us, we had cancerpatients that were that live up
there and they had to come downfor treatment and were concerned
that they couldn't make it.
Well, we are that, that uniquelocation where they can go to as
well.
(11:45):
So I just wanted to state thatas well, and we are on campus,
which makes it a lot easier.
We're literally like a walkaway from both the hospital and
the cancer center.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
What an amazing program they have, Don't you
agree?
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Judy, absolutely.
It's so necessary when familiesare in need, and especially if
you have to come a long distanceto come in, you just don't want
to leave, you don't want to befar away, whether you're the
patient or the family of thepatient.
This is a very valuableresource to those families as
they're going through theseissues.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Yvonne, can you tell us how an individual who might
need your services can go aboutgetting in contact with you?
And then also, besidesproviding a place for them to
sleep and to stay during thosetime frames, do you provide
other services counseling orproviding them meals?
(12:38):
What other things do you do?
Speaker 5 (12:40):
Absolutely so.
We are on a referral basis andbecause we are on the Desert
Regional Campus, we also serveas a first-come, first-served
basis on referral base.
So a lot of the referrals comefrom the hospital, from the
social workers there, as well asfrom our cancer centers here in
(13:02):
the Coachella Valley andactually sometimes even from the
Blythe Center, blythe area andImperial Valley.
We receive the referrals fromthose locations just so that we
can ensure that they arepatients that are in need of our
services because they areseeking medical care.
(13:25):
So there is a referral basis.
They can always contact theHanson House if they are.
Say, if it's a patient andthey're concerned, I'm going to
have a surgery at this locationhere.
I wonder if I can stay therebecause I don't want to drive
two hours away and I don't havethat gas money because they're
(13:46):
on a budget.
Well, you know what, when wehave that availability again, we
are for the community.
We work with them becausethat's what the mission is is to
ensure that these families andour patients here in the
Coachella Valley are seeking thecare and are thriving because
we have our resources availableto them.
(14:08):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
It's amazing that their recuperation period and
their treatment period goesalong so much smoother and in a
positive nature because ofproviding this support system
for them.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Absolutely.
Since I've been there it's beentwo and a half years and I have
testimonies after testimoniesand this is why I'm such an
advocate of what we're doingthere and the vision that you
know, we as a board of directorsand myself see there.
But yes, I see families thrivetogether.
(15:00):
When a family has thatopportunity to be rested during
a stressful moment, when it'snot just their loved one in the
hospital, but it's also what isbeyond that, what comes after
the financial burdens, you know,restarting again.
Well, no one really takes thatinto consideration.
(15:23):
That the families also have togo through that, you know.
And so they go through ittogether with their loved one.
So while they're there, they'reresting.
We have a beautiful, beautifulproperty with it, where it has
like an oasis feel to it, verytranquil, has a chapel, three
patios, 15 fountains, there's 15casitas.
(15:46):
The rooms are inviting.
It has that Spanish style feel.
Our late Dr Erkley knew what hewas building when he put this
together.
So families are resting.
We have a library where therecan access books to read.
I honestly didn't think peoplewould want to even do that
during a circumstances wherethey're in, where their loved
(16:09):
one is in, you know, receivingcare for trauma.
But they do that.
There there's the property,lends itself to a sense of hope
by what we have there with theamenities, and we have a lot of
families that tell us, and eventhe patient, when the mom is
(16:31):
cooking in the kitchen, afterthe patient is able and they're
recovering and we have a familythere they cook a whole meal,
take it to the hospital.
We've had stories where apatient has come to our property
and thanked us.
You know, if it wasn't for youguys being next door and my mom
cooking these whole meals, Idon't know how I would have
(16:52):
continued, you know, thrivingand getting better.
But it's, you know, it's ablessing to have you guys there.
So that right there has allowedus to really measure what we're
doing and what we can do,because we are the only ones
here in the Coachella Valley andwe work with everyone in the
community.
Again, you know it is a firstcome, first serve.
(17:13):
We are at Desert Regional.
Majority of our patients arefrom trauma and cancer centers
locally, but we do expand toother centers as well.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
And this connection with family is definitely part
of the healing process, whichhelps you know it helps the
person heal quicker and betterand then gives the opportunity
for them to go home where theycan continue their journey.
So, kevin, can you tell us howcan somebody get involved in
this event?
Where would they go to to signup to be a part of the blood
(17:46):
drive, and what do they need tobring along to help Hanson House
.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Okay, so for this one , for Hanson House, let's just
go with non-perishable fooditems.
They can take others, but sincewe're going to be sitting there
for a while, let's just go withnon-perishable food items,
things that are easy to unpackand, you know, be not
refrigerated.
For this time You're going tocome to the Double Tree by
Hilton Hotel.
It's in Cathedral City, on theVista, chino and Landau.
(18:13):
We'll be in the Canyon Room andif people want to sign up for
the blood drive, which thatwould be a yes, um, they go to
lstreamorg backslash cathedraland that is going to list the
cathedral city blood drives.
Just click on the one that saysrotary club of palm springs,
sunup, and they can also make anappointment if they want to
(18:33):
call 1-800-879-4484 and you cando it that way too or also visit
our Palm Springs website, thePalm Springs Sunup Club's
website.
And before I go I want to makeKim come back in for a second or
ask her because if you don'tlive within the Valley here,
let's say it's one of our RotaryClubs, who's in Temecula or,
(18:54):
you know, out in Riverside booka blood drive, because as we get
into the holiday season, muchlike summer, the blood supply
does get very crucial becausepeople travel.
So, kim, why don't you tellthem how to book a?
Speaker 4 (19:09):
blood drive and the importance of that as well.
We, yes, please.
Thank you very much for thatplug, kevin, because I sure do
appreciate that we are happy towork with anybody.
We are regional, so we arelooking for connections within
the Palm Springs area, sanBernardino, la County.
We go all over the SouthernCalifornia region.
So to book a blood drive, asKevin just said, you would go to
(19:33):
the Red Cross excuse me, excuseme, the Lifestream website, and
that's lifestream website andthat's
blooddonorsatlifestreamorg, andyou can get in the Lifestream
Donate Now portal and sign upand you can also get information
(19:55):
there At that site.
We have several differentcenters throughout the region or
you can call 1-800-879-4484 andyou can book a drive.
That way They'll direct you tothe appropriate account manager
and get that set up for you.
(20:16):
So, as far as what you wouldneed to bring on our end, we
would just need a photo ID andthat showed your name and your,
your face, and we would need tohave you complete what we call
an express pass, and that's thelittle mini physical that we
have people do the day of theblood drive and that, just again
(20:39):
, ensures that you're healthyand ready to donate blood.
So it's those two things.
It's interesting, piggybackingon what Yvonne said, it's nice
that you, you know what awonderful thing that you're
offering people, just in thosesituations, just even a glimpse
of normalcy and home.
(21:00):
That's just such a great thingthat you're doing and I, just I
have and even listening, justhave an even deeper appreciation
for what we're partnering with.
So thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Kim, I have a question for you.
We down here in Temecula have aLifestream location and some of
our viewers or viewers, hellolisteners might want to know.
The answer to this question isthat they currently are donating
down through the Temecula area.
When we donate blood throughthe Temecula area, does that
(21:36):
blood stay in the Temecula area?
Blood stay in the Temecula areaor like, for example, if we
donated blood up in the PalmDesert through this event coming
up, will it stay up there?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
It's my understanding I don't work in the lab portion
of that or the distributionportion of it it's my
understanding that you know wehave a bank and our main it's
our main hub is San Bernardinoand obviously if we had people
that were donated in Temeculaand somebody in Ontario was in
(22:08):
need of blood and we didn't havethe resources available, we
would be providing as needed.
It's a life saving.
I don't think somebody that'sdonated in Temecula said no,
don't do that.
That's donated in Chemekula sayno, don't do that, I don't want
that person in Ontario saved,but we, I believe, do our best
to keep our resources within theareas that they're donated to,
(22:28):
but obviously our job is to savelives within our region as
needed.
So, yeah, that's a goodquestion.
I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Another nice thing, too, is if we have first-time
blood donors and you'requestioning like I don't know
what type I am for my blood,once you make that first
donation, you'll be put into thesystem and you can sign up on
their live stream app and you'llbe told they'll tag you so that
you know what type of blood youhave.
So for future, if you want to,that's one way to do that, and
if your blood is used forsomeone to save a life, you
(22:59):
would get a notification thatyour blood helps save
so-and-so's life.
So the nice thing is aboutbeing altruistic and stepping up
to the plate and making thesedonations and doing something to
help save lives for someone youmay never ever meet.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
I mean, that's the rotary way we do whatever we can
to help out that impact thatyou may never see, but you know
that it's out there in the world.
Well, thank you all for joiningus today.
Any final thoughts?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
before we wrap up this episode, I'm going to
donate blood on Saturday,november 9th, at the Bloodstream
, the Lifestream Blood Drive outin Palm Springs.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Awesome.
Well, thank you all.
We look forward to publishingthis up and we hope you share it
with others in your circle ofinfluence so that we can get the
word out to come and join youon November 9th.
Awesome, thank you, thank you.
So that wraps up this episode ofHeroes of Hope.
We are so happy that we have anaudience out there listening.
We want you to subscribe, shareand tell your friends about the
(23:55):
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the
word out about the impact we'rehaving in this world.
Welcome to the Rotary Heroes of Hope podcast.
I'm your host, judy Zolfakar,proudly serving as the current
district governor for RotaryDistrict 5330.
Co-hosting with me is JamieZinn, our esteemed immediate
past district governor.
Heroes of Hope brings to lightthe remarkable stories of impact
from Rotarians within ourdistrict.
Our episodes shine a spotlighton transformative community
(00:23):
projects taking root in ourregion and extend their reach to
initiatives making waves on aglobal scale.
Each story is a testament tothe profound influence Rotarians
exert on the lives ofindividuals and communities we
are committed to serving.
Join us in this inspiringjourney.
Dive deeper into the world ofRotary with us and witness
firsthand the extraordinary waysin which Rotary touches lives,
and witness firsthand theextraordinary ways in which
(00:45):
Rotary touches lives andreshapes our world.
Welcome to the Rotary Heroes ofHope podcast, where hope takes
center stage and the heroes arethe Rotarians among us, turning
vision into action.
Well, how are you doing today,judy?
I'm doing great.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Good to see you, jamie.
Yes, absolutely, and we'regoing to have a great
conversation with our friendsfrom the desert who are
experiencing some cooler weathertoday.
That's awesome.
They're going to be awesome.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
Yeah, we have a lot to talk about today, so we're
going to get right in it.
Kevin, thank you and welcome.
By the way, just a side note,kevin does all of our scheduling
for our podcast.
So thank you, thank you, thankyou for making, helping our
guests get to us and feel soprepared and welcome, and it's a
pleasure to be able to talkwith you today.
So why don't you introduceyourself and tell us what we're
(01:32):
talking about?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
Thank you both very much.
So I'm Kevin Taylor from thePalm Springs Sunup Rotary Club.
We meet Tuesday mornings atseven o'clock, and with us today
online are Kim Bollinger fromLifestream, and that's the blood
bank, and also Yvonne Morenofrom Hanson House, and they'll
talk more about that.
But we have put together aholiday blood drive for our
(02:00):
district and hopefully everyonecan come out and help roll up
their sleeves and donate bloodon Saturday, november 9th.
It's going to be held at theDoubletree by Hilton Hotel in
Cathedral City and many of ourRotarians may remember that
because it used to be the Doraland that's where we used to have
our district conferences forseveral years, and so one of our
newest Rotarians in our clubhappens to be the general
manager there and her name isEbony Stinson and she's been so
delightful to host us.
(02:21):
We just did one last month andwe're going to do the one in
November.
So we'll be back.
But this time we're doingsomething different and in
addition to the blood drive,we're looping in Hanson house,
and Yvonne can talk about thatin just a second.
But we're doing a drive as wekind of enter into the holiday
season to help fill theirpantries, and so that's a little
bit about what we're doing, andwe want to invite all the
(02:42):
Rotarians from the district, oras many as possible, to come and
help save lives because, as Kimwill mention in a couple
minutes, the holiday season isreally, really important for
getting blood into the bloodbank so that we can use it for
people who need it.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
So tell us is Kim going to start off with, and let
us know exactly how the livestream works and how people can
sign up to come out and do thisfor us.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Hello, hi, thank you so much for having me.
I'm so happy to be here withyou guys today.
So I am with Lifestream BloodBank.
We are out of San Bernardino,california.
We're a regional blood bank.
We service and work with 80hospitals within our region.
When you donate with LifestreamBlood Bank, your donation stays
here within the SouthernCalifornia region.
(03:28):
We don't ship it off anywhere.
We are currently working withthe Sunrise Sunup Rotary Club
here in Palm Springs.
We're so proud of ourpartnership.
We had a very productive drivethis last month and raised was
it seven hundred dollars, Ibelieve, for the club and for
the services that they're goingto provide to your local
(03:50):
community.
So we're hoping to do thatagain in november and um
bringing another non-profit, avery worthy organization, on
board, and we're just lookingforward to being able to service
the hospitals, keep the bloodon the shelves Summer, this
summer in particular, where theheat has been difficult on our
(04:11):
equipment and people don't liketo come out and donate.
Sometimes when it's a littlewarm, it's uncomfortable.
So as we head into fall, peopleare back from vacation, schools
are back in session, so we'rehoping that everybody will come
out and participate.
It's so important to to donateblood and to make sure that we
have the resources we need forthe people who desperately are
(04:34):
in need of it.
So we just so much appreciatekevin and all his good works and
couldn't ask for a betterpartner, a better sponsor.
He's just so enthusiastic, asyou know, but yeah, we're
looking forward to a verysuccessful event.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So tell us, Kim, what could someone expect when they
come out to give blood.
So we know that they'll show upthere, but what should they
expect the process to be?
Speaker 4 (05:01):
Well, what's nice about donating blood is you do a
little mini physical, youanswer a health questionnaire so
we have a general idea of whatthe status of your health is,
but then we check your ironlevel and we make sure that your
efficiency as far as iron goesis at a good level for donation.
You got your blood pressurechecked and your temperature,
(05:24):
your heart rate, and again youget a little mini physical, and
so that's another perk, alongwith I think we're giving away a
t-shirt this time around, sothat'll be also an added benefit
.
But you come in, you fill out aform, we give you a physical.
The actual donation processitself only takes about 10
(05:48):
minutes 10 to 12 minutesdepending on the individual and
then, when you're done, we setyou up, we give you a snack, we
keep an eye on you for a fewminutes to make sure that you're
good to go.
Doesn't take longer than maybe40 minutes, and you save three
lives, so you don't wake upevery Saturday morning and do
that.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Well, that's a well spent 40 minutes, right, if
you're saving lives.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
I like to say, especially during the holiday
season give the gift that keepson giving.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
There's nothing more important than helping others
and giving back to yourcommunity, so what a great way
to do that.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
And it is a great way also just because a lot of
people you know, when you talkabout giving back to your
communities, it's very easy forpeople to write a check.
This is a great way because youcan't manufacture blood so to be
able to give that gift ofsomeone who you may never even
know.
And then the other thing I justwant to jump in and because kind
of Kim didn't mention it yet,but you know, when we have
(06:45):
catastrophes or really solidemergencies where people run to
the blood bank because the bloodis, you know, I'm going to go
donate blood because I need itthere right now, there's a three
day process.
It doesn't just show up on theshelf the same day you donate it
.
So that's why donating blood isreally important, to do that on
a regular basis, because ifthere's a major earthquake and
they need the blood supply, it'snot going to happen the day you
(07:06):
donate it.
And we want to be, you know,thinking forward and not having
to be reactionary, saying, oh myGod, we're low.
And then the other thing thathappens too is that if they are
low on blood supplies, then thehospitals may have to cancel
some procedures because there'snot enough to go through with an
operation or something likethat.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
They have to prioritize.
It was interesting we had on apodcast earlier our community
services person, chuck Weisbart,and talking about how to
prepare for disaster right andall the different things that
you can do, and it's interestingthat I didn't even think about
this one in that part of thepreparation is to give blood
often so that there is not acrisis when there is a crisis,
(07:48):
because when there's a crisis,because when there's a crisis,
there's oftentimes not theability to give blood and, like
you said, not the timing,because if it takes three days
to turn it around, then that'snot going to be very helpful
when we're in the middle of anearthquake or a fire.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Exactly, exactly.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
So I really like the collaboration that I'm seeing
here, also with Rotary, with theBlood Bank.
And can we have Yvonne talk alittle bit about Hanson House
and how Hanson House comes intothis particular event and this
day and how you guys are allcollaborating together?
Speaker 5 (08:21):
Absolutely Well.
Hello, my name is Yvonne Moreno, the Executive Director of
Hanson House, and, as I'msitting here and hearing already
the information that is beingshared, you're right, it is a
great collaboration that we havehere with the Rotary and also
with the Bled Blank Hanson House.
As you know, we are anaffordable lodging facility, a
(08:46):
home away from home, and weprovide affordable, cost to no
cost rooms for cancer patientswhen they are undergoing
treatment, as well as familiesthat have a loved one in trauma
or a baby in NICU.
They stay with us for sometimesan average of seven to nine
(09:09):
days to.
We've seen certain, you know,situations where we've had
families there to up to six toseven months, and how we all
collaborate is that one.
We all know that the patientsthat stay with us, which are our
guests, but also going to thecancer center to get their
treatment, they also rely onthat blood from the blood bank.
(09:32):
And for us, you know, with thecollaboration that Kevin, of
course, you know who I adore fordoing this already of the food
drive for us.
We serve families and right nowwe're coming off of this, this
high demand, where we hadfamilies from all over of the
(09:53):
east valley and beyond, whereour pantry couldn't even stay
stocked for an average of fivedays, and that said a lot to me
and so I started working andoutreaching, you know, for for
us to continue to serve andprovide a full pantry to the
families.
So all of our efforts togetheris basically the collaborative
(10:17):
effort.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Just one thing too, just so you know, the House is
actually located on the campusof Desert Regional Medical
Center, so they are adjacent tothe hospital.
So those families who have, youknow, patients staying in the
hospital, whether they're inNICU or in cancer, can literally
walk across the parking lotfrom Hanson House and be with
them by their side.
And to Yvonne's point as well,they do, you know, if they have
(10:41):
someone lifelighted in for atrauma, injury or emergency.
That's another great way,because not everyone can afford,
you know, to be able to afforda hotel and you know, like she
said, it could be a week long ormaybe months long, depending on
the severity of the situationand the person in the trauma
unit.
But it's, they are right on thecampus of Desert Regional
Medical Center.
Speaker 5 (11:02):
And you know, and, as you guys, then need listening
to your guys' stories as well weare also a center, and a lot of
folks don't know this becausewe are a gem in the desert, but
we are very unique in thehealthcare community.
Especially for like emergencies, for situations with the crisis
(11:25):
, especially in Big Bear, we had, you know, people that were
being relocated.
Well, for us, we had cancerpatients that were that live up
there and they had to come downfor treatment and were concerned
that they couldn't make it.
Well, we are that, that uniquelocation where they can go to as
well.
(11:45):
So I just wanted to state thatas well, and we are on campus,
which makes it a lot easier.
We're literally like a walkaway from both the hospital and
the cancer center.
Speaker 2 (11:56):
What an amazing program they have, Don't you
agree?
Speaker 1 (11:58):
Judy, absolutely.
It's so necessary when familiesare in need, and especially if
you have to come a long distanceto come in, you just don't want
to leave, you don't want to befar away, whether you're the
patient or the family of thepatient.
This is a very valuableresource to those families as
they're going through theseissues.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Yvonne, can you tell us how an individual who might
need your services can go aboutgetting in contact with you?
And then also, besidesproviding a place for them to
sleep and to stay during thosetime frames, do you provide
other services counseling orproviding them meals?
(12:38):
What other things do you do?
Speaker 5 (12:40):
Absolutely so.
We are on a referral basis andbecause we are on the Desert
Regional Campus, we also serveas a first-come, first-served
basis on referral base.
So a lot of the referrals comefrom the hospital, from the
social workers there, as well asfrom our cancer centers here in
(13:02):
the Coachella Valley andactually sometimes even from the
Blythe Center, blythe area andImperial Valley.
We receive the referrals fromthose locations just so that we
can ensure that they arepatients that are in need of our
services because they areseeking medical care.
(13:25):
So there is a referral basis.
They can always contact theHanson House if they are.
Say, if it's a patient andthey're concerned, I'm going to
have a surgery at this locationhere.
I wonder if I can stay therebecause I don't want to drive
two hours away and I don't havethat gas money because they're
(13:46):
on a budget.
Well, you know what, when wehave that availability again, we
are for the community.
We work with them becausethat's what the mission is is to
ensure that these families andour patients here in the
Coachella Valley are seeking thecare and are thriving because
we have our resources availableto them.
(14:08):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
It's amazing that their recuperation period and
their treatment period goesalong so much smoother and in a
positive nature because ofproviding this support system
for them.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
Absolutely.
Since I've been there it's beentwo and a half years and I have
testimonies after testimoniesand this is why I'm such an
advocate of what we're doingthere and the vision that you
know, we as a board of directorsand myself see there.
But yes, I see families thrivetogether.
(15:00):
When a family has thatopportunity to be rested during
a stressful moment, when it'snot just their loved one in the
hospital, but it's also what isbeyond that, what comes after
the financial burdens, you know,restarting again.
Well, no one really takes thatinto consideration.
(15:23):
That the families also have togo through that, you know.
And so they go through ittogether with their loved one.
So while they're there, they'reresting.
We have a beautiful, beautifulproperty with it, where it has
like an oasis feel to it, verytranquil, has a chapel, three
patios, 15 fountains, there's 15casitas.
(15:46):
The rooms are inviting.
It has that Spanish style feel.
Our late Dr Erkley knew what hewas building when he put this
together.
So families are resting.
We have a library where therecan access books to read.
I honestly didn't think peoplewould want to even do that
during a circumstances wherethey're in, where their loved
(16:09):
one is in, you know, receivingcare for trauma.
But they do that.
There there's the property,lends itself to a sense of hope
by what we have there with theamenities, and we have a lot of
families that tell us, and eventhe patient, when the mom is
(16:31):
cooking in the kitchen, afterthe patient is able and they're
recovering and we have a familythere they cook a whole meal,
take it to the hospital.
We've had stories where apatient has come to our property
and thanked us.
You know, if it wasn't for youguys being next door and my mom
cooking these whole meals, Idon't know how I would have
(16:52):
continued, you know, thrivingand getting better.
But it's, you know, it's ablessing to have you guys there.
So that right there has allowedus to really measure what we're
doing and what we can do,because we are the only ones
here in the Coachella Valley andwe work with everyone in the
community.
Again, you know it is a firstcome, first serve.
(17:13):
We are at Desert Regional.
Majority of our patients arefrom trauma and cancer centers
locally, but we do expand toother centers as well.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
And this connection with family is definitely part
of the healing process, whichhelps you know it helps the
person heal quicker and betterand then gives the opportunity
for them to go home where theycan continue their journey.
So, kevin, can you tell us howcan somebody get involved in
this event?
Where would they go to to signup to be a part of the blood
(17:46):
drive, and what do they need tobring along to help Hanson House
.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Okay, so for this one , for Hanson House, let's just
go with non-perishable fooditems.
They can take others, but sincewe're going to be sitting there
for a while, let's just go withnon-perishable food items,
things that are easy to unpackand, you know, be not
refrigerated.
For this time You're going tocome to the Double Tree by
Hilton Hotel.
It's in Cathedral City, on theVista, chino and Landau.
(18:13):
We'll be in the Canyon Room andif people want to sign up for
the blood drive, which thatwould be a yes, um, they go to
lstreamorg backslash cathedraland that is going to list the
cathedral city blood drives.
Just click on the one that saysrotary club of palm springs,
sunup, and they can also make anappointment if they want to
(18:33):
call 1-800-879-4484 and you cando it that way too or also visit
our Palm Springs website, thePalm Springs Sunup Club's
website.
And before I go I want to makeKim come back in for a second or
ask her because if you don'tlive within the Valley here,
let's say it's one of our RotaryClubs, who's in Temecula or,
(18:54):
you know, out in Riverside booka blood drive, because as we get
into the holiday season, muchlike summer, the blood supply
does get very crucial becausepeople travel.
So, kim, why don't you tellthem how to book a?
Speaker 4 (19:09):
blood drive and the importance of that as well.
We, yes, please.
Thank you very much for thatplug, kevin, because I sure do
appreciate that we are happy towork with anybody.
We are regional, so we arelooking for connections within
the Palm Springs area, sanBernardino, la County.
We go all over the SouthernCalifornia region.
So to book a blood drive, asKevin just said, you would go to
(19:33):
the Red Cross excuse me, excuseme, the Lifestream website, and
that's lifestream website andthat's
blooddonorsatlifestreamorg, andyou can get in the Lifestream
Donate Now portal and sign upand you can also get information
(19:55):
there At that site.
We have several differentcenters throughout the region or
you can call 1-800-879-4484 andyou can book a drive.
That way They'll direct you tothe appropriate account manager
and get that set up for you.
(20:16):
So, as far as what you wouldneed to bring on our end, we
would just need a photo ID andthat showed your name and your,
your face, and we would need tohave you complete what we call
an express pass, and that's thelittle mini physical that we
have people do the day of theblood drive and that, just again
(20:39):
, ensures that you're healthyand ready to donate blood.
So it's those two things.
It's interesting, piggybackingon what Yvonne said, it's nice
that you, you know what awonderful thing that you're
offering people, just in thosesituations, just even a glimpse
of normalcy and home.
(21:00):
That's just such a great thingthat you're doing and I, just I
have and even listening, justhave an even deeper appreciation
for what we're partnering with.
So thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
Kim, I have a question for you.
We down here in Temecula have aLifestream location and some of
our viewers or viewers, hellolisteners might want to know.
The answer to this question isthat they currently are donating
down through the Temecula area.
When we donate blood throughthe Temecula area, does that
(21:36):
blood stay in the Temecula area?
Blood stay in the Temecula areaor like, for example, if we
donated blood up in the PalmDesert through this event coming
up, will it stay up there?
Speaker 4 (21:48):
It's my understanding I don't work in the lab portion
of that or the distributionportion of it it's my
understanding that you know wehave a bank and our main it's
our main hub is San Bernardinoand obviously if we had people
that were donated in Temeculaand somebody in Ontario was in
(22:08):
need of blood and we didn't havethe resources available, we
would be providing as needed.
It's a life saving.
I don't think somebody that'sdonated in Temecula said no,
don't do that.
That's donated in Chemekula sayno, don't do that, I don't want
that person in Ontario saved,but we, I believe, do our best
to keep our resources within theareas that they're donated to,
(22:28):
but obviously our job is to savelives within our region as
needed.
So, yeah, that's a goodquestion.
I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Another nice thing, too, is if we have first-time
blood donors and you'requestioning like I don't know
what type I am for my blood,once you make that first
donation, you'll be put into thesystem and you can sign up on
their live stream app and you'llbe told they'll tag you so that
you know what type of blood youhave.
So for future, if you want to,that's one way to do that, and
if your blood is used forsomeone to save a life, you
(22:59):
would get a notification thatyour blood helps save
so-and-so's life.
So the nice thing is aboutbeing altruistic and stepping up
to the plate and making thesedonations and doing something to
help save lives for someone youmay never ever meet.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
I mean, that's the rotary way we do whatever we can
to help out that impact thatyou may never see, but you know
that it's out there in the world.
Well, thank you all for joiningus today.
Any final thoughts?
Speaker 3 (23:24):
before we wrap up this episode, I'm going to
donate blood on Saturday,november 9th, at the Bloodstream
, the Lifestream Blood Drive outin Palm Springs.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
Awesome.
Well, thank you all.
We look forward to publishingthis up and we hope you share it
with others in your circle ofinfluence so that we can get the
word out to come and join youon November 9th.
Awesome, thank you, thank you.
So that wraps up this episode ofHeroes of Hope.
We are so happy that we have anaudience out there listening.
We want you to subscribe, shareand tell your friends about the
(23:55):
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the
word out about the impact we'rehaving in this world.
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