Buckeye Fans & Blood Donors Celebrate School Spirit

CBC HOSTS ANNUAL DARKE CO. OSU ALUMNI BLOOD DRIVE IN GREENVILLE

OSU Alumni Club member Tot Heinrichs

GREENVILLE, Ohio - There was Buckeye pride at last year’s Darke County OSU Alumni Blood Drive, but the team was struggling. This year Coach Urban Meyer has them undefeated and headed in the right direction. Pass the cheese ball, grab another chocolate-peanut-butter Buckeye in the Donor Café and bring on Michigan because loyal OSU fans have their swagger back.

Donor beds were full and the tailgate spread in the Donor Café was scrumptious Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the Greenville Church of the Brethren for the annual OSU Alumni Blood Drive. The drive registered 190 donors and resulted in 176 blood donations (including 15 platelet donations) for 107 percent of goal.

Tot Heinrichs - distinguished Buckeye alum, retired home economics teacher and maker of the celebrated cheese ball – was in the kitchen, fresh off her live cooking segment appearance on the WDTN Living Dayton show where she rolled a cheese ball from scratch.

Buckeyeman Larry Lokai with CBC staff members; automated donation area.

“I thought it was exciting,” she said. “I had never been in a TV studio before. To see everything going on on TV, it looks so organized. But there are goof-ups - but they cover it up so well!”

Tot said she put more preparation into her TV debut than she ever did for the classroom, yet was still nervous. Her daughter told Tot “That was so you” when she changed the recipe on the fly. Tot said she wished she had remembered to plug the Alumni Club more, particularly the golf outing that raises money for the four $1,000 OSU scholarships they award and the annual picnic for OSU freshmen. But she did get in a good word for the blood drive.

Once again, OSU Buckeyeman Larry Lokai arrived at the drive to cheer on the donors, volunteers and CBC staff. He passed out several of his giant, homemade Buckeye necklaces, awarding them like Olympic Gold Medals. Cheryl Strickler, who made her 120th lifetime donation at the drive, was already wearing one. “I’m not an OSU fan, I’m from Michigan,” Cheryl said, “but Dana (CBC Rep. Dana Puterbaugh) gave them to me!”

Watching from the automated donation area were Nelson Rismiller (163 LTD), Mary Williams (130 LTD) and Nancy Lutz (211 LTD). They all appreciate their Darke Co. CBC representative, Dana. “She’s a very hard worker,” said Nancy. “She’s very conscientious and is always looking out for people. She makes you feel welcome.”

They also kidded Mary, saying her middle initial is “T for trouble.” “They ought to keep track of who gets her platelets,” said Nancy. “She’s mean. It might change their personality!” “I love you guys,” said Mary, shaking her head, “or otherwise I wouldn’t put up with this.”

Sam Graves made his 60th lifetime donation at the drive. He’s an OSU grad and a guidance counselor at Arcanum High School. “I’m playing hooky today so I could donate,” he said.

“We’re small alumni club, but very active,” Tot said with pride. Every bit of that was “Buckeye Pride.”