Blood drive to be held at
Garden City elementary schools
Stratford and Stewart elementary schools are working with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Stratford School and Wednesday, Nov, 19 at Stewart School. Both drives will take place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the schools’ gymnasiums. All eligible community members are invited and encouraged to consider donating blood.
There is no substitute for human blood. According to the American Red Cross, red blood cells are only viable for 42 days, which makes it necessary to continuously replenish the blood supply, especially since every two seconds someone in the United States is in need of blood. One pint of donated blood is separated into usable components, which can help save several lives.
Similar to last year’s blood drive, the American Red Cross has generously organized a donation of tickets to New York Islanders games. Each presenting blood donor will receive two complimentary tickets to attend an Islanders’ hockey tilt.
Additionally, this community event is a service-learning experience for the fifth-grade students as part of the district’s F.O.C.U.S. program (Fifth Grade Outdoor, Community, Unity, Service). Fifth-grade students are offered the opportunity to volunteer as “Pint Size Heroes” to assist on blood donation days. Students will help with the registration of blood donors as well as offer beverages and snacks to community members who have donated.
Appointments may be scheduled to donate blood. Stewart School appointments may be coordinated with Alicia Marciano at 516-877-1502 or email at ahm456@aol.com. The contact for Stratford School is Dianna Betit at 508-380-1858 or email at stratford bloodrive2014@gmail.com.
This year the schools hope to exceed last year’s collection with a goal of 100 units per school. The blood drive coordinators for each school, Alicia Marciano for Stewart and Dianna Betit at Stratford, encourage all eligible community members to consider donating blood, the gift of life.
