Saint Anselm Parish held its first Blood Drive of 2020 on Sunday, March 1st in the Academy’s Meletia Hall. The Holy Name Society, on behalf of the New York Blood Center, sponsored the drive, the first of three this year. The two other drives will be in July and in November.
Donors were greeted by members of the Holy Name Society as they entered and were occasionally “assisted” to get started on entering their information on the dedicated laptops used by the New York Blood Center to receive and process data. To begin entering their info, all donors had to be able to show ID: a New York Blood Center Donor Card, a New York State driver’s license or non-driver ID, or a college or high school ID. We are grateful to the dozens of donors who took the time and effort to come to the drive and to share the gift of life.
Upon completing the entry of their information, donors met with a representative of the NY Blood Center, to review their medical history, take blood pressure, and check iron levels. For those who qualified to make a blood donation, the choice was to either make a “regular” donation or to participate in the ALEX donation process. An ALEX donation takes additional time, but permits the separation of the blood into multiple products. The New York Blood Center is very happy to conduct donation drives in Meletia Hall, as it is a space that serves very well for ALEX donations.
After the donation process was finished, donors rested up and recharged at the canteen table, enjoying salty and sugary snacks and fruit juices – just what the doctor ordered to restore blood sugar levels.
Our thanks to the many donors, to the members of the Holy Name Society, and to our student volunteer – Antonio, whose commitment to this worthwhile activity, makes it possible for the parish to help the New York Blood Center share the gift of life with those in need, and to Monsignor Maloney for his support of the St. Anselm Blood Drives.
For information about blood donation and about future blood drives in our area contact the New York Blood Center:
The New York Blood Center
1-800-933-BLOOD (2566)
www.nybloodcenter.org
All the best,
The St. Anselm Publicity Committee