Operation Blood Donation to begin July 20 Published July 13, 2011 By Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Ellsworth Airmen will have the opportunity to help the local community by donating blood during Operation Blood Donation, July 20 and 21. Interested Airmen, civilian employees, and family members can donate blood in the 28th Security Forces Squadron Guard Mount Room. Each donation will help raise money for laboratory testing. "We would like to get mass participation because all the blood we collect stays here in our local community," said Capt. Stephen Vela, 28th Medical Operations Squadron family practice physician assistant and base blood donation officer. "Ellsworth is the largest source for donations, and every unit of blood we collect is worth roughly $240 for us to pay for laboratory testing for all our patients." While each unit of blood has a dollar value assigned, money is never exchanged. Rather, it's kept in records similar to credits the 28th Medical Group uses as staff order laboratory testing downtown. Since they use the "credits" first, it saves money in their yearly budget. During the first quarter of 2011, more than $83,000 worth of credits were accrued and $73,200 was collected during the second quarter. "We hope that this base-wide donation event will allow us to collect much more this quarter," he said. "While it seems like it's a lot of money, some of the testing is rather expensive and we can easily use it up very quickly." Airmen who are interested in donating blood should contact their squadron blood donation point of contact to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also allowed, with the understanding they may need to wait in line and all appointments have priority. Everyone 17 years of age and older and medically cleared can donate. The squadron representatives are: 28th Operations Support Squadron Senior Airmen Joshua and Amanda Humphrey, 385-1042 28th Security Forces Squadron Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Thomas, 385-4400 28th Civil Engineer Squadron Senior Airman Melissa Ruhlig, 385-2580 28th CES Fire Station Staff Sgt. Michael Braach, 385-1113 28th Communications Squadron Senior Airman Adam Smith, 385-4783 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron Staff Sgt. Joshua Staab, 385-2145 Tech. Sgt. Ralph Smith, 385-2223 28th Maintenance Operations Squadron (MXG) Tech. Sgt. Kevin Rotondelli, 385-2714 28th Maintenance Squadron Master Sgt. Adam Kuenkel, 385-1435 28th Medical Group Staff Sgt. Jon Andrew, 385-3310 Capt. Stephen Vela, 385-6700 28th Munitions Squadron Tech. Sgt. Kevin Mutter, 385-2799 Air Force Financial Services Center Airman 1st Class Timothy Byrd, contact via e-mail at Timothy.Byrd@ellsworth.af.mil Detachment 8 Tech. Sgt. James Shepherd, 385-2318 If they are unavailable, Vela can also schedule appointments. He can be reached by calling 385-3354.