"I’m a big advocate.  I tell students in my classes at Incarnate Word about the joy of donating...."

Bina Dambekodi’s parents must be very proud of her. They planted the seeds - instilling in their children the importance of giving back to the community - and Bina has nurtured those seeds and they have grown and nourished others.

The giving that brings her the greatest joy is donating blood. She remembers well the day a recruiter from STBTC came to James Madison High School and explained to the students how the simple act of rolling up your sleeve and donating a pint of self-replenishing blood can save a life. Actually save a life! It was an irresistible concept to Bina and her friends.

On that day, she made a commitment to become a lifelong blood donor. “I believe in charity, in contributing to a good cause,” she says. Besides delivering Meals on Wheels and having worked on a Habitat for Humanity house, this 29-year-old graduate student has a job, studies, participates in sports, works out at a gym, and loves trying out different foods.

How does she find the time? “As an Asian, I’m a minority, and I think it’s important for minorities to contribute to the blood supply. I make the time and make an effort to give, and so do my mother and my younger sister, because we know that we are helping others and we hope that someday someone else will help our family if we need blood.”

Bina understands the importance of young people becoming dedicated blood donors.  “I’m a big advocate.  I tell students in my classes at Incarnate Word about the joy of donating, and I tell my family and friends that if they’ll come in to the Blood and Tissue Center, I’ll walk them through the process the first time to make them comfortable.”