National Blood Donor Day

TIL that there's a national blood donor day, every June 14. I would probably NOT go to donate blood or platelets on that day, as it's probably packed to the gills with willing donors. I also learned today that there's a man named Mark Vinson who's trying to donate platelets in all 50 states.... he already completed the task of donating blood in all 50 states this year! Missed the video. It's the kind of story that would have went more viral in something like.....2008, when one man went around the country doing "50 jobs in 50 states" and got on CNN for the interesting idea. In 2025, though, with so much more content and Youtubers and streamers and content creators, and people not caring about the news as much, it got a few thousand views on Youtube and an Alaska Airlines promotional spot. Sigh.....that's the state of the world: people will jump all over a story about Bad Bunny performing at the Super Bowl or celebrity gossip or the latest Taylor Swift album (Life of a Showgirl) or the latest ICE raid video, the good stories about humankind go unnoticed; good people doing good things don't get as much attention as someone seeking attention doing stupid things. In Mark Vinson's case, he's been donating blood and platelets for 37 years, he's an ambassador for the American Red Cross, he's encouraging other people to donate. I wish I came up with this idea; I almost did the 50 jobs in 50 states challenge in 2011 after law school when I couldn't find a job; it really ties together my love of visiting new places and my (wouldn't say love) my commitment to donating and doing something good for the world. So far in my blood donation journey I've donated in 6 different states and various different cities, and I used to seek out new donation places around L.A. and other cities I lived in temporarily just to check out new areas of the city. So I envy Mark Vinson and the life that lets him go to various states on business and otehr occasions especially with a family. Some of those smaller population states can be tough, and have less occasion to go to Montana, Idaho, North Dakota.......he even made it to Alaska and Hawaii, where "blood donation" is not one of the first things to come to mind about what to do there. (But that actually make it more important to donate if there are less donors there). The logistics of going to a new place is also tough: transportation is one thing, but also learning the new rules of the donation place, getting to know the nurses, finding out if there's a vein whisperer or not.....blood donation anyone can do, but platelets: you migth want a familiar face doing both arms. I think the best thing that American Red Cross does in getting repeat donors is NOT to keep spamming me with phone calls and texts about the "critical shortage" of donors and the free shirt giveaways, hoodies (although those are nice), I can get equivalent quality ones for $20 or so and not be forced to take an extra large shirt is they track your donations for you, so you can look back at your whole donation history and where you've been, how often you did it, where the blood went to, what your hematocrit and other health signs are (A1c tests for diabetes, etc.) It gives the donor a log, a ritual, and gives people like Mark Vinson a history of their life, where they've been to, where they might still want to go, that you matter in this world and others notice your sacrifice. So often in today's world our accomplishments go unnoticed: I paid my mortgage this month, yay! There will be one for next month, or at work bosses don't acknowledge your work, or you let someone in on the highway but they give no acknowledgment of your kindness. Instead selfish people who do relatively dumb things get likes and views on Youtube. It's frustrating and can be ungratifying in this "only attracted to cool stuff" world. It's valuable when someone pays attention, and that's likely why American Red Cross can get repeat donors like me. Even though they get money and have an incentive to recruit you too, at least they let you know someone's keeping track. I still won't go in to donate on National Blood Donor Day though.