The American Red Cross awarded a $3,000 scholarship to Luverne High School graduate Elise Jarchow on Monday for her volunteer work over the past year.
She and local volunteers and Red Cross officials met at WildFlowers to review the numbers and recognize Jarchow’s efforts.
“We already have a great group of donors in Luverne, but Elise increased those numbers over what we’ve had in the past,” said Red Cross donor recruiter Kim Jensen.
The Luverne drive has already collected 280 units so far this scholarship period with a goal of 70 at the drive on Thursday that will count toward Jarchow’s award.
The Bloodmobile will be in Luverne from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 24, at Grand Prairie, 105 S. Estey Street.
“If we collect to goal, that is 350 units which is up from the previous year’s total of 272 when the community and high school drives were held separately.”
She said there were also 35 first-time donors so far this year in Luverne.
Jarchow isn’t the first student to earn a Red Cross scholarship, but Jensen said Jarchow’s efforts during the coronavirus pandemic helped Luverne donors to continue giving blood.
“In the past, students volunteered with the two drives per year that we had in the school, but with COVID, we weren’t able to go into the schools this past year,” Jensen said.
In contacting Mike Jarchow to use the space in Grand Prairie Events, he mentioned that Elise could help.
“We told him, ‘If you have a student, we have a scholarship,’ and her youth and vibrancy with our adult volunteers got everyone excited to come out and give blood,” Jensen said.
“Elise stepped right in and has a handle on the technology and it really has been wonderful.”
At Monday’s luncheon, Linda Wenzel of A.C.E. of Southwest Minnesota expressed appreciation for all the local volunteers who work to make the blood drives successful.
“We logged 372 volunteer hours in 2020,” Wenzel said about volunteers working behind the scenes with temperature screenings, snacks, refreshments and more.
“That’s monumental considering we were in COVID-19 restrictions.”