Overheard at the blood bank today

[The Straight Story]

I was one of only three white people there (about 15 people there). Decided to go as I needed some more gas money for interviews later this week and $35 for a few hours and some blood seemed like a good deal.

I was sitting there killing time and working on a program for a client (whom I was hoping to meet later in the day) and I overheard this:

"Man, you know it is bad out there when a white boy in a suit is here giving blood to get some money, how much worse is it gonna get?"

Most the people there were minorities and homeless, and they can make nearly $300 a month giving their blood. As I went through the process I was shocked. There is a questionnaire on aids which they give you the answers to, the nurses and workers there knew almost everyone (except me and one other guy) .

I felt really bad for these folks and wished I could do something more to help them. These are the folks who will use this money for some beer or smokes (they were discussing the price difference in beer from one place to another) to get through the day.

This money won't get them a place to live, or pay the bills. It will just get them through a few days more without the pain they are feeling.

They have run out of welfare, unemployment, and so on. One guy was talking about how he came here just to get warm, even if he couldn't give blood that day.

That $20-35 they get that day will help them face the next few days. It won't get them a car, gas (for a car they cannot afford to have due to insurance, tags, etc), pay their electric, and so on.

It will get them something to sustain them until their next trip here.

I can't and won't judge them or what they do each day. They might drink it or smoke it, they might even use it for a nice night with someone else. But I know that money won't go far - and if WE want it to be able to go further then WE need to give them a good base to work off of.

I can't judge these people and what they do with what little they have. I can only strive to understand and try and find a way to help them beyond their day to day struggles.

Tomorrow I am going back there, I had to leave early and didn't get paid. I will use the money I get to pay for gas to even more interviews and parking. In that vein I am damned lucky compared to them.

Funny how we see the economy as bad now that white people in suits are having issues. When all along there have been others having issues and needing bailouts. Was not so important back then to our elected officials, but now that it impacts them it is important.

[Bluebear]

1. 'They might drink it or smoke it' - well, so might you as the white guy

Is everybody at this blood bank paid or might some of those minorities have been there just to donate blood for people who need it?

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Have you ever sold blood?

I have. I needed the money. At the kind of place TSS is talking about, nobody is there to donate blood. You go to the Red Cross or a hospital for that.

[Bluebear]

6. No, they don't want my blood.

Sex with men since 1782 and all that jazz :)

[NightWatcher]

2. shit dude. we are all wired into a survival trip right now

sounds like you and a whole lot of other people are only trying to do what you can to get by.

Be sure to save some blood and energy for the fights that lay ahead.

[Raster]

3. "In that vein..."

:spank:

[Bluebear]

4. ---

:spray: good one!

[Omaha Steve]

7. My understanding is it is illegal to sell blood

Plasma is probably what was being donated.

[wellstone dem]

8. My daugter does this to pay college bills. nt

[rainbow4321]

9. Do you mean plasma instead of blood?

We have centers here that will pay for plasma donors..none that will pay for blood.

[conscious evolution]

11. Some states allow it.

[Skittles]

10. it is illegal to sell blood

plasma, maybe

I've donated platelets for decades and have never received a dime

[Lorax]

12. $300?

How can anyone make $300/month? I thought you can't give blood that frequently.