Creston blood donor on track for 19 gallons

With only a few pints to go before completing 19 gallons of blood donated, Mary Lee Foltz, who will be 67 this month, is a life-long blood donor.

Foltz originally gave blood for a surgery her father. She said, at the time, giving blood for a specific person meant they wouldn’t have to pay for it. Now 50 years later, Foltz regularly gives blood that goes to the general blood bank.

“They call; I go,” she said.

For the last 48 years, Foltz has done hair, nails and skin care at Hair House in Creston. Except for breaks when she couldn’t donate due to being away at school and while she was pregnant and other restrictions, she has continued to give blood all that time.

Foltz said she likes helping people.

“There’s times I think you do feel better when you give,” she said. “Some won’t give, so if you can, then ‘why not?’”

The process of donating blood is not painful, Foltz said. It’s just a “prick and a sting.”

Foltz has passed the tradition of giving blood on to her daughter. She said she doesn’t know how much blood Elizabeth Foltz has given, but “she’s just getting started.” The two used to go together to give blood, but now Elizabeth is able to donate at work since IMT insurance, where she works in Des Moines, hosts their own blood drives.

According to the American Red Cross website, there is currently an urgent need for blood. In March, blood supplies dropped to a critical level due to the lack of donations caused by the COVID-19 restrictions.

“Blood centers are reporting inventories falling to their lowest levels since the early stages of the pandemic as the nation’s hospitals resume elective surgeries,” a statement released by the Red Cross and America’s Blood Centers said. “In addition, blood drives continue to be canceled, as many businesses, high schools and community organizations remain closed.”

Upcoming local blood drives will be held July 6 at the Methodist Church in Orient and July 29 at the Southwestern Community College Instructional Building. Contact the American Red Cross for more information about donating blood.