How many of us can say we’ve taken the time to donate a pint of blood? How many of us can we say we’ve donated a gallon?

Leo Kerling can — 23 times over.

The Austin resident received a pin Monday for donating his 23rd gallon of blood, which he’s done over the course of nearly six decades.

He has potentially saved the lives of 552 people and has been going to the bloodmobile since 1950.

Kerling, 82, has donated blood 180 times.

He’s not alone.

Austin’s Robert Rice received his pin for donating 22 gallons of blood earlier this year.

We need people like Kerling and Rice, and we need others from every generation to step up as well.

Each pint can save up to three lives, with the blood going to victims of cancer and other diseases, and newborn and premature babies, just to name a few.

We know life can get so busy sometimes, there’s hardly enough time to clean the house or spend time with family. Well, giving blood can be something a family can do together, potentially saving lives at the same time.

We encourage Mower County residents to consider donating blood, and we thank Kerling and Rice for their unconditional contributions.