Two local families host special blood drives

Two Tristate families are turning personal journeys into community impact by hosting specialty blood drives in honor of their children this July.

Brynn’s Birthday Blood Drive will take place Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 6371 Grand Vista Ave. in Cincinnati. Brynn Schulte, now turning six, lives with Factor XIII deficiency — a rare blood disorder requiring routine plasma infusions. To date, she’s received nearly 1,000 infusions. Brynn and her mother, Lindsay, host the annual blood drive to raise awareness and give back to the community. The event includes a bounce house, food trucks, and free Reds ringer T-shirts for donors. 

Just days later, the Ben Strong Giveback Blood Drive will be held Friday, July 25, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the St. Bernard Municipal Building (120 Washington Ave). The Messer family hosts this drive each year to honor their son, Ben, who passed away in 2015 due to complications from Heterotaxy Syndrome. In his short life, Ben underwent multiple heart surgeries and inspired the “Ben Strong” movement.

Appointments for the Ben Strong drive can be made at hoxworth.org/groups/benstrong

Both families hope their efforts inspire others to donate blood, especially during the critical summer months. “This is how we say thank you,” says Lindsay Schulte. “Blood donation is one of the easiest ways to truly make a difference.”

Hoxworth Blood Center urgently appeals to blood donors this summer. Blood is a vital yet finite resource that cannot be manufactured in a lab. Your donations ensure patients like Brynn receive blood products for routine treatments and unexpected emergencies.