In Corsicana, a group of dedicated volunteers is making a difference in the fight to save lives by supporting local East Texas Red Cross blood drives.

Kay Hestand, a retired community banker, never expected her occasional blood donations to lead her into a key role in organizing lifesaving blood drives. Hestand became more involved two years ago when she began assisting longtime volunteer Sue Wilson in her work for the company outreach.

After Wilson’s passing, Hestand took over responsibility for coordinating the bimonthly blood drives in Corsicana. She now manages everything from scheduling appointments to communicating with donors through emails, texts and letters, while also distributing flyers to encourage community participation.

“I do everything I can to make sure donors stay connected, and appointments are lined up,” Hestand said.

John Robinson, another essential volunteer, helps with logistics during the drives. He sets up signs, assists with scheduling and ensures everything runs smoothly. Another volunteer refers to him and his work as “priceless,” recognizing how vital his support is to the success of each event.

Robinson isn’t alone in his efforts. Janet Craig, a Red Cross volunteer since the 1990s, has also joined the team. After years of assisting with disaster relief, Craig joined forces to help the Biomed Services in 2021. She now handles donor check-ins and the Red Cross RapidPass system at the blood drives. Craig, a regular blood donor, gives O-negative blood every eight weeks—an especially valuable blood type.

“I’ve always had a heart to serve others, and the Red Cross treats you well,” Craig said. “Red Cross is such a great organization. I consider the Red Cross my family.”

The Corsicana blood drives occur every other month on the first Thursday, with additional drives held at local high schools. Hestand, Craig and Robinson’s support has helped increase donations and meet the growing demand for blood in the area.

For more information about upcoming blood drives in East Texas, visit RedCrossBlood.org.

During National Volunteer Week, the American Red Cross is celebrating the selfless volunteers whose unwavering support make it possible for us to assist people in need every day. This Volunteer Week, the Red Cross invites you to put on a red vest and join our team. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to get started today.