Photo above: Blood drive at WIKA Houston
Employees at two WIKA USA locations donated a total of 50 units of blood during the spring 2022 blood drive, doing their part to ease the nation’s shortage of this critical resource.
For saving lives, there is no substitute for human blood. However, the US was facing the worst blood shortage in more than a decade, due to a combination of fewer donors, fewer workers, and fewer blood centers. The pandemic only exacerbated the situation.
One of WIKA’s core values is social responsibility: working to improve conditions in our community and the world at large. That is why WIKA USA sponsored a blood drive in our Houston and Lawrenceville locations, so that anyone who wished to donate could do so on company time.
Blood Drive in Houston
On March 16, 2022, the upstairs meeting area of WIKA Houston was the scene of some poking and much good humor. A total of 19 employees donated 24 units, or 12 liters, to the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.
To thank them for this gift of life, each donor received a T-shirt and a ticket to Big Rivers Waterpark. Acknowledgment also goes to Michael Castaneda, EHS (environmental, health, and safety) manager and organizer of the blood drive at WIKA Houston.
Michael said he was glad to head up the event. “Thanks so much to all those who gave. It was incredibly encouraging to see coworkers step up and participate in the blood drive, saving 72 lives through their selfless giving!”
Blood Drive in Lawrenceville
The following month, on April 13, 2022, it was the headquarters’ turn to roll up their sleeves. The Red Cross was able to collect 26 units of blood from 30 people before the event ended. (More employees wanted to donate.) Out of those who donated, half were first-timers.
Everyone who gave blood, volunteered, or participated in some way received a T-shirt, snacks, and a box lunch from Chick-fil-A. This was to thank them for their efforts – but also to restore iron levels in the donors’ bodies.
The Blood Program Leader at WIKA USA was Eugenys Contreras, a business analyst in the IT department. “We helped save 78 lives, so I am happy about that,” she said. “It is wonderful to have such patient and kind colleagues!”
The Lawrenceville location had a great blood drive.
Blood donation in WIKA USA’s headquarters