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Midmark
team members Bobbi Swabb (foreground) & Cassandra Heinl.
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Midmark: "We are caring people"
Midmark shines
with national blood drive excellence award
VERSAILLES, Ohio – The new “Plant B” cafeteria where Midmark
Corporation’s Versailles location holds its employee blood drives can
feel like a fish bowl. It’s a corner room with glass walls, and donors
are bathed in the sunlight from floor-to-ceiling windows. The
same room becomes a beacon in the darkness during the company’s
late-shift blood drives. In both cases, the outside world can
easily see what Midmark team members are doing to help save lives.
The world of blood banking is also paying attention to Midmark’s
accomplishments. America’s Blood Centers honored Midmark with a
2013 Award of Excellence for “Most Productive Blood Drive.” Community
Blood Center (CBC) nominated Midmark, and was proud to present the
glass Award of Excellence at Midmark’s Thursday, July 31 blood drive,
one of the 18 employee blood drives Midmark will host in 2014.
Midmark has annually co-sponsored a CBC blood drive with the Versailles
High School National Honor Society since 2001. It began hosting
employee blood drives at the Midmark Versailles location in 2011. By
2013 the program had grown to 16 blood drives, including the
introduction of evening blood drives for late-shift workers, and
donations increased 49%.
“It’s always a win-win,” said Global Community Relations Manager Mitch
Eiting who serves as coordinator for all Midmark blood drives.
“Our team members are able to give without going elsewhere and can
enjoy the satisfaction they get out of it. At the same time CBC is able
to get the blood that is needed.”
Mitch says the program started slow, but grew quickly with the help of
Midmark’s Wellness Committee, which introduced monthly door prizes and
produced the popular “Give a Little” campaign video. “That really
jumped the involvement,” he said.
“Our team members are so into it,” he said. “We have team members
recruiting other new donors. We don’t ask for that, it just
happens. That just shows the worth of the program.”
“Our team members are caring people,” said Midmark President and C.E.O.
Dr. Anne Eiting Klamar, who represents the fourth generation of the
Eiting family to hold a leadership position at Midmark. “In our
culture, if someone gets sick they bring in food and start a
collection. We’re helping people.”
Thursday’s blood drive was busy as employees again filled the
appointment schedule. Jason Jenkins, who completed his 45th
lifetime donation, said he has been able to donate more frequently
since coming to work at Midmark five years ago. “I think it’s the
atmosphere,” he said. “Everybody likes everybody. It makes you
feel good when you know you’re helping someone.”
Bobbi Swabb and Cassandra Heinl work side-by-side at Midmark, and
donated side-by-side at the blood drive. It was Cassandra’s 4th
lifetime donation and the 2nd for Bobbi. “It was easy, and it’s
convenient,” Bobbi said as she made her next appointment for September.
“I’ll be back!”
“It’s our responsibility to make a positive difference in the world,”
said Dr. Klamar, who values Midmark’s support of charitable causes at
home and abroad. “Saving lives transcends everything, even our
company’s manufacturing of medical equipment. We have a
responsibility to do a greater good and make the world a better place.”
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Midmark
blood drive coordinator Mitch Eiting with donor David Marlow.
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