95-year-old has volunteered in blood banking for a half a century
Where’s Carol? It’s not uncommon to hear that question at a blood drive in Des Plaines.
The blood drive is a well-established tradition at the Des Plaines Public Library. It’s held six times a year and has been going strong for more than 20 years. And Carol Lynch has been at every single one of these blood drives, except one.
“Everyone here knows me! I can always spot the new donors, said Carol. “I love seeing the donors and helping them after they give blood.”
Carol’s been volunteering with Vitalant for 24 years, but she started helping out at blood centers 50 years ago.
“It was in the 70s. Someone said we need a volunteer, and my hand went up,” said Carol. “My husband and I always wanted to help out, so I volunteered at a blood drive back then and never stopped.”
But Carol’s love for helping others started well before the 70s.
“I remember when our children were young, and they were in the Boy/Girl Scouts. Someone said we need a Den Mother. I had to sit on my hands so my hand wouldn’t go up. I’m just always raising my hand when someone needs help.”
When Carol heard Project Linus needed help, she signed up. Project Linus is a nonprofit organization that gives out handmade blankets to children in the United States who are in need, traumatized or seriously ill. So, Carol became a “Blanketeer,” a volunteer that makes the blankets for traumatized children. Carol crochets her blankets. She’s been making those blankets for 20 plus years and said, “I do it in my spare time.”
Carol was married for 43 years. She raised four children and still always found time to volunteer. These days she gives her time to a lot of blood drives in Cook County, but she says the drive at the Des Plaines Library is her favorite. Remember she’s been to every blood drive at the library for the past 22 years — except that one.
“I missed one drive, and they had a different Carol here in my place. The donors came in and said, “You're not Carol.” The volunteer here said yes, my name is Carol, and the donors said, “Well, you're not our Carol.”
Carol is turning 95 years young next month. To celebrate her big birthday, the staff at Vitalant organized a small party for her. They naturally chose her favorite place to celebrate: the blood drive at the Des Plaines Public Library.
Happy Birthday, Carol.