06/07/2026
Civil Air Patrol's Wright County Composite Squadron Hosts First
Operation Pulse Lift Blood Drive in Minnesota
WRIGHT COUNTY, Minn. (June 6, 2026)—Civil Air Patrol's Wright County Composite Squadron hosted Minnesota’s first-ever Operation Pulse Lift blood drive on Friday, June 5, 2026, marking
a significant milestone in expanding this lifesaving national mission to the state.
Operation Pulse Lift is a Civil Air Patrol mission conducted in partnership with blood donor agencies across the country to
support the urgent national need for blood donations.
Through OPL missions, CAP volunteers assist with community blood drives, promote donor participation, transport lifesaving blood, and help ensure adequate blood supplies for hospitals and emergency response efforts across the country.
The program reflects CAP’s broader emergency services mission and commitment to saving lives.
Since its inception, with the participation of over 5,000 CAP members, OPL has supported 897 BDC events collecting/processing 96,497 blood units, saving 289,422 lives.
This inaugural Minnesota Operation Pulse Lift event represents a unique collaboration between CAP volunteers and the American Red Cross to address ongoing blood shortages.
The effort is especially meaningful to Wright County Composite Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Marybeth Slocumb, who has personally benefited from lifesaving blood donations, making the mission especially close to her heart. “Seeing so many people in our community step up to save lives was deeply personal for me. We had cadets as young as 12 years old participating today
at the blood donation center event. Knowing our unit members stepped up to make this kind of impact is nothing short of inspiring.
We are hoping to make this a semiannual event,” she said. It's a family affair:
For more information about Civil Air Patrol, visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com. Learn
more about Minnesota Wing at mnwg.cap.gov.
Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
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Credit - Lt. Col. Marybeth Slocumb Commander, Wright County Comp. Sq.
