The holiday season may be over, but lots of people continue to give and give and give. One great way to continue giving no matter what age is to give the gift of life by giving blood. Becker Twp. resident and just-turned 90-year-old, Alta Norlund, is one such person. And January just happens to be the American Red Crosses biggest time of the year. So Monday, she drove herself to a local church and waited patiently for her name to be called to contribute.

 

Blood donations typically drop off during and immediately after the winter holidays, which makes National Blood Donor Month in January a critical time for the American Red Cross.

 

The American Red Cross of Minnesota held a blood drive at Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church in Big Lake, with dozens  of Sherburne County residents preregistering to give blood.

 

Norlund is well known for her continual dedication to being a blood donor whenever a blood drive comes to the area.

 

“”I’m just glad I can still do this at my age,” Alta said. “As long as I can do it and that I’m healthy, I’ll keep doing it.”

 

Alta was honored the day before at the Becker American Legion in celebration of her 90 years of life. Dozens of people gathered at the venue to visit with the spry, witty and outgoing woman who portrays a woman many years younger than her ID depicts.

 

“There’s really nothing much to it,” Alta said of choosing to donate blood.

 

“I feel great physically and mentally and know of its importance.”

 

Norlund grew up in the outskirts of Becker and attended a country school in Germantown — near Snake River Church. She is a Becker High School graduate and was married for many years to her husband, Milton, who passed away about 10 years ago. Alta and Milton produced nine children (Cheryl, Beverly, Delroy, Edna, Linda, Shirley, Daryl and Terri) and has 21 great grandchildren.

 

One of Alta and Milton’s babies, unfortunately, did not survive after birth.

 

Alta was a housewife who took care of the kids while the husband worked outside the home. In later years, she took on a part-time job as a waitress.

 

The American Red Cross had set up six stalls in the basement of the church where nurses and administrators interviewed the donors and subjected them to a few, quick tests to ensure they were eligible to donate. Their pulse was checked as well as their blood pressure, temperature and hemoglobin.

 

From there, the donor was escorted to another room where eight beds were staged to conduct the blood donations. After the donor process, the donors were shown to a large table where volunteers served water, juice, pretzels and cookies to the donors before they headed out the door.

 

“The most needed blood type is typically O-negative,” said Red Cross Director, Jason. “But we are always in need of all types of blood.”

 

Jason said the ARC crew was expecting to collect at least 89 units by the end of the day.

 

Monday’s blood drive was hosted by the Big Lake Lionesses. They hold two blood drives a year as well as the Knights of Columbus.

 

The next one held at MOTV Church will be March 19.

 

You can be sure Alta will be there with her bequeathing charm and a smile on her face.