As a frequent blood donor, 70-year-old Mike Engelhardt of St. Paul never really tallied how much red stuff he’s poured out for a good cause.

The American Red Cross, on the other hand, has kept track for him. Engelhardt, who lives in the Lowertown neighborhood, made his 296th blood donation on Thursday morning in the downtown Union Depot transit hub on Kellogg Boulevard.

That adds up to more than 37 gallons of his blood across a lifetime of giving.

“When I learned I was type O-negative, and they told me what that meant, I just felt like it was a responsibility,” said Engelhardt, a “universal” donor whose blood can be shared with most anyone. “It’s easy to do, it takes so little time and it can make a difference.”

When did he start giving?

Read Full Article