From: Wade Kwon
To: Gail J. McGovern
Subject: Follow-up to your 12/9/16 letter
Date: Dec. 18, 2016

Ms. McGovern,

Thank you for your kind, thoughtful response to my letter of complaint, originally addressed to Mark Beddingfield at the American Red Cross Alabama Region office in October.

I just wanted to put in a quick follow-up.

As I mentioned in my original letter, I was scheduled for a Power Red donation on Dec. 17 (yesterday) at a mobile blood drive at St, Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. It was about an hour round-trip drive from my home.

I showed up early for my 10 a.m. appointment. After checking in, I was called first for pre-screening, with my Rapidpass in hand.

Unfortunately, this drive did not have a Power Red machine (or any other machine). The event was equipped for regular single-pint donations only. I had booked this appointment in advance using redcrossblood.org, specifically because (as I outlined in my letter) it’s so rare to find a Power Red drive falling on a weekend. 

(Birmingham’s only central Red Cross location is open weekdays, but not during hours that can accommodate most 8-to-5 workers.)

After four failed attempts in 4 months, I give up.

Years of attempting to donate my blood, my money and my time are at an end. Local leadership is indifferent to my struggle as a dedicated donor, as they have made it more difficult over the years for a majority of residents to walk in and donate.

Sadly, the only alternative here is LifeSouth, which has its own share of donation problems.

But I can’t waste anymore time attempting to give to an organization that cannot and will not meet donors even part way. 

I appreciate your attention, and I wish you good luck in the organization.

Sincerely,

Wade Kwon
Birmingham, Alabama