Inspiring Journeys of Achievement

Your Stories

share your Story

We believe in stories and connecting with others. From donors to recipients, employees, supporters, community partners and more, every story matters and helps inspire others to save lives. Read, share or submit your own – embrace the power of storytelling.

Carole & Jamie

“I feel like I’m coming to a friend’s house to hang out for an hour!” If this is how you feel after donating platelets, you know you must be doing something right! Carole & Jamie are regular platelet donors at our Plainfield Fire Company satellite location. Carole used to donate whole blood, but one time, she was across the room from Jamie, who had been donating platelets, and she became intrigued. Carole asked how the process worked, decided to give it a shot, and now the 2 have been scheduling platelet donations together ever since! As a former employee at Bangor Area School District, Carole donates platelets in honor of Tommy Stackhouse, a former student who passed away in 2022 from Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Jamie chooses to donate at MKBC because after working at a local hospital, she has seen first-hand what a pint of blood can do for a patient. She understands that the platelets she donates at MKBC will go right to hospitals in our area and could potentially save the life of someone she knows! Carole & Jamie’s heroic act of donating platelets has even inspired others to follow suit! The last picture shows two of Carole’s friends donating whole blood for the first time in over a year because they were inspired by her! Thank you, Carole & Jamie, for helping us save lives! We look forward to seeing you at your next platelet donation!

Bruce McIntosh

Like most of us, Bruce McIntosh of Hellertown, PA., recalls with exact detail his experiences on September 11, 2001. It was during a work meeting that he and his colleagues learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center. In fact, according to McIntosh, he left work after the second tower collapsed and drove directly to MKBC in Bethlehem where he witnessed a line of blood donors that stretched outside the door. It’s a scene he will never forget. The effect on McIntosh’s personal blood donation journey was profound. Since then, he continues to give blood at MKBC and in fact, has served as a Canteen Volunteer in the past after his retirement. He also made deliveries of blood for the Red Cross before and throughout the pandemic. He is currently considering volunteering again with MKBC in an area where we can best use his energy and skills. According to McIntosh “blood donations are more than important. If blood could be manufactured it would be, but it can’t be manufactured. Blood must come out of the arms of good people willing to help others.” We thank you Brian for being one of those people willing to help others!

Brian Bobbin

Here at MKBC, Brian Bobbin is the “Unicorn” blood donor. Like a Unicorn, Brian is truly “rare and highly valued” in terms of his support of MKBC. Why? Because he gives blood every 8 weeks like clockwork, he’s younger than the average blood donor, he encourages others to give blood and he supports MKBC financially too. You’ll find him every other Saturday each month between 6:45 a.m. and 7 a.m. giving platelets. His dad encouraged him as a kid to always do what needed to be done without having to be asked, which is a big motivator for Brian. He tells us he doesn’t find time to give blood, he makes time to give. And, he encourages others to give “because it’s important to do and don’t make a big deal about it.”

Arthur Williams

Arthur Williams was born in 1943, a native of Carbon County and a U.S. Army Veteran. He was stationed in Korea, Maryland and California. He married Mary Nihen 56 years ago, and they raised three children and have been blessed with four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. And he proudly owns 32 MKBC t-shirts! Arthur started donating blood in the 1960s at the VA hospital nearby. But he stopped after donating five gallons when he discovered his blood was not being used locally. Arthur worked at the Palmerton Zinc Co and Bethlehem Steel, and it was at Mack Corporation in the 1980s that he started donating to MKBC. And he has never stopped. Today, Arthur has donated over 48 gallons of blood, platelets, and plasma. A member of the Lansford American Legion Post 123 and a member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Summit Hill. Arthur has spent a good portion of his life helping others; he ran with the Lansford Ambulance for 22 years, transported Veterans to the VA Hospital for appointments, helped serve Veterans at the Jonas Hotel, his Hometown Hero’s banner waves in Lansford and has enjoyed being with the Lansford, Summit Hill and Nesquehoning American Legion members over the years. Arthur had to slow down his donations and he is “bummed”. He is looking forward to getting to the 50 gallon level in the near future. Arthur is truly a “Veteran Still Serving” our United States.

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Your Stories

share your Story

We believe in stories and connecting with others. From donors to recipients, employees, supporters, community partners and more, every story matters and helps inspire others to save lives. Read, share or submit your own – embrace the power of storytelling.

MKBC

Community Partners