By KIRBY NEUMANN-REA
News Editor
February 11, 2008

Pinch yourself, says Margo Parker.

That is not to say there is a mean or mischievous streak in Parker.

Rather, she has been a critical cog in local blood donation efforts since 1993.

Parker is volunteer coordinator for the American Red Cross Bloodmobile’s visits to Hood River three or four times each year. She calls up 12 people who then call about 50 past blood donors to remind them of the blood drive and schedule appointments, and makes sure Red Cross has enough local volunteers on donation day.

“I have a lot of good, reliable people to help me with the calls,” Parker said. “If we didn’t do it Portland (Red Cross) would have to and it would cost a lot.”

A donor since 1990, she is working on her 12th gallon, and periodically goes to Portland to donate blood for use as platelets to serve leukemia and burn patients.

“It is such an easy thing to do,” she said of giving blood. “I can’t understand people not wanting to do it.”

And so for those reticent about giving blood, she offers this small suggestion:

“Pinch the inside of your arm. It’s no more painful than that.”

Most of the people she speaks with are experienced donors, however. But the personal touch remains critical to Parker and her volunteers.

“We try to reach the people. If they’re not home we call back. You can leave all the messages you want but you really need to make that personal contact.”

It is important to keep Portland Red Cross informed of how many donors are expected, so they can plan blood drive staffing.

“We really like people to make appointments and to keep them.” Parker said. “It keeps everyone happy. You can have some walk-in, but too much of that can be a problem.”

Besides her Red Cross work, Parker loves gardening and spending time with her grandchildren, Cole, 6, and Cody, two weeks. Her sons, David and Tony, are both Hood River Valley High School graduates and live near Portland.

Margo and her husband, Charles, came to Parkdale in 1985 when Charles became district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service. Charles retired in 1999, and the couple now lives on Hays Drive in Hood River. The Parkers, who celebrated their 40th anniversary last month, have lived throughout the Northwest.

“We moved all around with the Forest Service,” she said. Margo was working as a draftswoman for the USFS when she met Charles. When the Parkers lived in Silver Lake, Ore., she served as an EMT.

“That’s where I really saw the need for donating blood,” she said.

The late Winifred Neimuth, then coordinator, called her up one day in 1990 and asked Parker to make phone calls. Three years later, she succeeded Neimuth, who had been coordinator for about 20 years.

Getting donors there is the main thing, and it lifts Parker.

“I like to see the repeaters, and find out what’s going on their lives,” Parker said. “I don’t call everyone so I don’t always get to talk to everyone, but I like the whole aspect of all these wonderful people in the Gorge who make the time to donate to their fellow man. We’re all going through the same thing. The people of the Gorge are wonderful.”

(The next blood drive in Hood River will be March 20 at Hood River Armory.)