Virtual Blood Drive

In honor of my father, James Hassig, who had a passion for life and helping people, and whom we lost much too early to cancer on Wednesday, August 28th, 2024. Jim was not only a blood donor but also a transfusion recipient. On the way to one of his first high school football games in Salida on 9/11/71, the team school bus lost the brakes heading down from Monarch Pass and skidded over the side of a ravine. 8 students and 1 team coach died, and the rest were rushed to hospitals. Jim convalesced in a Denver hospital for over a month before returning to Gunnison. That experience, I believe, prompted him to train as a medic in the army because you inadvertently learn A LOT when you're in the hospital that long! In 2017 I needed lifesaving transfusions after the complicated birth of my son, Corbin (Jim's only grandchild), and became a donor and recipient, just like my dad. When I decided to become a blood drive coordinator, Jim jumped in to support me, offering to host a blood drive annually at his store, Ace Hardware of Jewell Square. We were always so touched by how our community showed up en masse to give blood, or just support. Despite multiple medical setbacks Jim continued to donate for as long as he could. In honor of Jim's giving nature and his persistently 'helpful' attitude and in lieu of flowers, we are hosting this virtual blood drive. For those who cannot donate blood, Vitalant also accepts gifts in Memorium online. We hope that we can save a few lives, in Jims name