Alexander Clemente is a bilingual blood donor ambassador for the Red Cross and also a regular blood donor.
During Hispanic Heritage Month, the American Red Cross is celebrating our Hispanic and Latino blood donors, partners and volunteers who make our lifesaving mission possible. People like Alexander Clemente, who not only volunteers his time with the Red Cross as a Blood Donor Ambassador, but also donates blood to help patients in need. Originally from Guatemala, Alexander came to the U.S. in hopes of making a better life for himself and once here he decided to study medicine.
"I am from Guatemala, where I was raised by my grandparents. I grew up on a ranch taking care of animals and growing corn until I graduated from high school. But at some point, I realized that I wanted something different for my life and I didn't have many opportunities in my country, so I decided to move to the United States," he said.
A path to achieving his dreams
Since moving to the U.S., Alexander has learned English, earned his GED and begun his post-secondary education. After completing three years at a local community college, he transferred to the University of San Francisco, where he has declared his intent to study medicine. As part of his work to achieve his dream of practicing medicine, he began volunteering with the Red Cross as a Blood Donor Ambassador. In this role, Alexander makes sure that everyone who comes to donate blood with the Red Cross has a good experience and leaves feeling well. He’s also able to make great use of his native Spanish language skills helping non-English speakers to feel comfortable giving blood at his local blood donor center in San Francisco, CA.
“Here in San Francisco, I had to help some people who looked disoriented. First, I spoke to them in English, and they didn’t respond, then I spoke to them in Spanish, and they told me that they wanted to donate blood but didn’t know how to do it. I helped them with the process and translated everything they needed to make them feel comfortable. Something I have noticed among some Hispanics is that they want to donate, but sometimes they don’t do it because they don’t speak English,” said Alexander.
Just like the people we serve, the Red Cross is proud of its diverse workforce, which includes nearly 2,000 employees and 14,000 volunteers who are Latino and Hispanic. People like Alexander, who can communicate in both English and Spanish, play an instrumental role in not only ensuring donors feel well during their donation but, more importantly, feel welcome in our mission.
Inspired by the donors he serves to give blood
Last year, motivated by the stories of the donors he helps, Alexander decided to overcome his fear and become a regular blood donor—helping to save lives. Alexander, like many Latinos, has type O blood, a critical blood type hospitals reach for first in emergency situations. More than a quarter of all blood products used each year are used in critical care and emergency room situations, highlighting the lifesaving power that runs through the veins of the Latino community.
To help ensure no one faces an emergency alone this Hispanic Heritage Month, visit RedCross.org or call 1-800-733-2767 to give blood or donate your time.
About Blood Donation:
All are welcome in our mission. All blood donors who come are asked to bring a photo ID. This can be a driver's license, passport from your home country, student, work or library card. The Red Cross is committed to not only improving the health of the patients it serves but also our generous blood donors. As part of the blood donation process, the Red Cross provides vital health insights (pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and hemoglobin levels) to our blood donors through a mini-health screening during each donation.
Most donors feel well after donation and feel even better knowing they helped ensure the health of patients in their community. The Red Cross does strongly recommend that all donors spend approximately 15 minutes in our refreshment and recovery area after their donation to refuel and rehydrate their body with key nutrients like salt, sugar and fluids. These nutrients can help restore the body’s blood volume faster.
To say thanks, all who come to give blood Sept. 16-30 will get a $15 e-gift card. See RedCrossBlood.org/Fall for details. All who come to give blood in October will get a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email and a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards. See details at RedCrossBlood.org/Treat.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
