the bistro off broadway
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Buckeye fans can brag about big win at Blood Drive

GREENVILLE, Ohio - The chocolate Buckeyes are so much sweeter, Tot’s famous cheeseball is even cheesier, and every scarlet-and-grey smile beams brighter when the Darke County Ohio State University Alumni Club Blood Drive comes right after a Buckeye football triumph like Saturday night’s upset of Michigan State.

Ohio State’s thrashing of the Spartans in East Lansing on national TV was something for fans to brag about Tuesday, Nov. 11 at the Alumni Club’s Community Blood Center (CBC) blood drive at the Greenville Church of the Brethren. It was a victory that brought out all sorts of emotions.

“The first part of the game didn’t seem promising,” said Alumni Club volunteer Dennis Baker, an OSU class of ’71 graduate who worked 31 years in Ohio State’s Darke County Extension Office. His dorm was part of Ohio Stadium before the “Shoe” was renovated. He watched the game nervously with friends. “But we stopped making mistakes and outplayed them the rest of the game.”

Ansonia donor Todd Thwaits was also nervous. “It was tough,” he said. “It was a kind of scary beginning but they turned it around.”

“I’m not a grad,” said Nelson Rismiller, a regular at Church of the Brethren blood drives who made his 184th lifetime donation Tuesday. “But I was hoping to be available to donate for this because it’s a great party atmosphere.”

It’s a tradition for CBC Darke County Account Representative Dana Puterbaugh and the Alumni Club volunteers to stage a “tailgate party” in the Donor Café.  Tuesday’s menu included hot dogs cooked up by blood drive co-coordinator Shirla Neff, chocolate-and-peanut butter Buckeyes made by co-coordinator Jan Boyer, and the traditional cheese ball by long-time volunteer Tot Heinrich.

The Alumni Club’s Kay Girbert, also a blood drive co-coordinator, served refreshments in the café and talked about her late husband Paul, an OSU class of ’57 grad and a long-time blood donor. “We’ve had season tickets for 40 years,” she said. “I still go with my children and grandchildren and friends. My granddaughter is a senior at Michigan State. She was on (ESPN) College Game Day Saturday morning and was at the game. I haven’t heard from her all week!”

Urbana University graduate Chelsea Halderman volunteered with campus blood drives and now works for the retirement community where she has gotten to know blood donor Ivan Patterson.  Chelsea made her 20th lifetime donation and was impressed to learn Ivan had just made his 434th lifetime donation.

“Wow!” she said. “That’s amazing!” As for the Buckeyes, she wasn’t worried. “I went to bed before it was over, but it was a good lead and I felt good about it!”

Newlyweds Kyle and Jessica Trimpi were married July 10 and donated together Tuesday.  Kyle made a double red blood cell donation to reach 24 lifetime donations while Jessica made her 2nd lifetime donation.  Kyle said he may not be an OSU alum, but he is a loyal Buckeye fan.

“Heck yea!” he said. “I’m a big Buckeye fan. I figured Ohio State could pull it out.  I know Michigan State isn’t happy – sorry Michigan State! I’ve got to go with the Buckeyes!”

“Going with the Buckeye’s helped make Tuesday’s Darke County OSU Alumni Club blood drive a success with 132 registrations, eight apheresis donations, and 125 whole blood donations.



 
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