Since 2008, Diana Rowe has organized 45 Red Cross blood drives in her hometown of Gooding, Idaho, encouraging her community to roll up their sleeves and come out like clockwork every few months. Her drives have brought in 1,800 units, enough blood to potentially save 5,500 lives.

But it’s not the overall total that inspires Diana, but rather the individual stories of those who are helped each day by a steady and stable blood supply, including one story that’s extremely personal.

In 2004, Diana’s brother, Marine Capt. Alan Rowe, was inspecting a bridge in Fallujah in northern Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated, killing Rowe and severely injuring several of his men. Alan’s fellow Marines needed countless units of blood during their treatment and recovery, blood available because of the generosity of donors.

“Blood saved their lives,” Diana said. “Every pint that I put in is for my brother and his men and everybody else’s loved ones whose lives are saved. I just happen to think of my brother’s brothers. This is my way of giving back to those who saved their lives.”

Four years after Alan’s death, Diana was a stay-at-home mom when she got the call from Red Cross telling her they needed a blood drive coordinator in her area and asking her if she would be interested.

“I was like absolutely … where do I sign up?” she said.

Her daughter was her helper until she graduated high school and left home. Then it was her two sons, who were 7 and 8 at the time, who stepped up.

Diana started with high school groups and other stay-at-home moms in her network and the enthusiasm grew from there. Three drives a year have turned into four as Diana has rallied her community to come down to the local veterans’ hall every few months to give the gift of life.

“These are my friends and neighbors,” she said. “These are people I will see tomorrow at the store or I’ll see at church or I work with.”

Diana’s drives have become a community get-together and social occasion, and before the restrictions that came with COVID, she would have cinnamon rolls on hand to thank donors and fill the air with their sweetness.

“I love it,” she said. “While I was working at home during the pandemic, the blood drives were my happy outside contact with people.

“I feel like it’s a family.”

Diana’s employer -- Northwest Farm Credit Services -- has been extremely supportive and gives Diana and other employees three days off a year to use for volunteerism. That means she doesn’t have to use vacation days for three of her four blood drives a year.

She’s very appreciative.

“They are amazing,” she said. “Their support really makes a difference in my ability to volunteer. They are very, very big on volunteering.

And because Northwest Farm Credit Services works so closely with the agricultural community, they understand how critical a stable and steady blood supply, especially to those who have suffered a farming accident.

“They are pretty tickled that this is what I do,” she said.

“Volunteerism is ingrained in their culture, and they’re committed to improving lives.”

Like Diana’s daughter, her sons have now graduated and moved on.

“They’re no longer my worker bees,” she said.

But with 45 drives under her belt and her community firmly onboard, Diana’s drives are in a good place. She finishes most drives these days in the donor chair herself. And she knows she’s making an impact.

After her brother’s death, Diana went to the hospital to visit one of Alan’s buddies injured during the blast.

“I know my brother would have been so glad he made it, and that’s because people donate blood,” she said. “That’s just what it comes down to. It’s just that simple.”

DONATE LIFESAVING BLOOD

To find a blood drive near you and make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and your zip code or call 800-RED-CROSS. Donating blood takes less than an hour and can help save more than one life.

BECOME A RED CROSS VOLUNTEER

Even if you’re not eligible to donate blood you can still help keep hospital shelves stocked. Please consider volunteering as a blood donor ambassador. These volunteers welcome donors to Red Cross drives, help schedule their next appointment and make sure they have a good experience. To learn more, email IDMT.Recruiting@redcross.org or call or text 406-493-8778.