About three decades ago, David Schapiro embarked on a meaningful journey of giving back through blood donation, a commitment that has blossomed into a remarkable legacy of kindness.

During his youthful days in the United States Navy, the 62-year-old Portland bus driver enjoyed visiting a local donation center with his fellow servicemen. After their altruistic efforts, they would cheerfully celebrate their contributions over a pint of beer.

Upon relocating to Oregon, David continued this heartwarming tradition for nearly 30 more years. This weekend, he joyfully marked a significant milestone—his 100th gallon of platelets donated to the American Red Cross, a generous gift that has the potential to save more than 400 lives.

David has dedicated himself to donating platelets approximately every two weeks for the last 30 years, reaching the maximum allowed donations of 24 times a year. Reflecting on his achievement, he shared, “If you were to take a 100-gallon fish tank and fill that up with product, I mean, that’s a large fish tank.”

What fills David with pride is not merely the volume he has donated, but the impact it has had—“It’s the fact that there are 400 people out there that it could have saved.”

Platelet donation is quite unique compared to standard blood donation. Whole blood, which is the most commonly donated type, contains a variety of components including red and white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Initially, David was unaware that he could specifically donate platelets, but once he learned about their critical use for cancer patients, it resonated deeply with him. He shared, “I have a sister who has had cancer three times,” making the cause all the more personal.

With each platelet donation, David is able to help multiple individuals—up to four lives can be saved from just one donation. That means his incredible 100 gallons, or approximately 800 pounds, of contributions have positively impacted around 400 people in need.

David’s wife has joined him in this wonderful endeavor, as they both visit the donation center every two weeks to do their part. They embrace the philosophy: “Because I can.”

David believes in the importance of helping others, stating, “I know there are some people who do it for money—but I’ve always felt, if you can help, you should help.” He considers himself fortunate to have the ability to assist, saying, “I’m fortunate enough where I can help somebody and I can save possibly two to four people. And I don’t need the money, so I would do it regardless if they paid me or not. I just choose to volunteer.”

To celebrate his latest donation, David brought a cake to share, and to his delight, the phlebotomists surprised him with another cake. Given that platelet donation can take two to three hours, they had plenty of time to revel in this joyous occasion.

Describing the donation process, David explained, “Basically you sit there, you get put in a big chair, there’s a machine next to you, they take the blood out. It’s put in basically a centrifuge, they spit it, they separate all the products from it and then they give you your blood back. Then they start the whole process over and over and over again until they get what they need.”

The time dedicated to this process is a small sacrifice for such a monumental impact on the lives of others.

David encourages anyone considering donating to take the leap: “Just do it. There’s no reason not to. It’s two-and-a-half hours of your life. Everybody has time in their week or month where they’re doing nothing, that they’re sitting watching TV, reading a book, doing literally nothing. If you have that time, spend that two-and-a-half hours saving a life.”

For those interested in becoming a donor—whether for platelets, whole blood, or plasma—making an appointment with the Red Cross is a breeze, simply by entering your zip code online.

And if you happen to be in the Portland area, you might just run into David at the donation center, as he has no plans to slow down. “If we stay on pace – because I’m 62 going on 63 – I might have to be 95 before I make it to 200 [gallons]. But I have a new goal.”

David Schapiro’s journey of compassion and giving is a beautiful reminder of the difference one person can make in the lives of many.