Mineola Library Hosts Community Blood Drive

Early Thursday morning a multi-colored van from the New York Blood Center pulled up to the , the crew inside ready to set up a community blood drive.

The lower-level community room was decorated with colorful signs thanking everyone for their time and donation, directing people through the four steps they had to complete, and presenting facts and figures explaining why their contribution of "the gift of life" is so vital.

“It can do so much, so much,” said Kimberly K., a phlebotomist at the New York Blood Center. Each pint of blood goes to “cancer patients, trauma patients, leukemia patients, anyone that is in desperate need of it.”

The blood center holds similar drives every day. On Long Island alone, the non-profit organization has fixed sites in Riverhead, Lake Success, Bohemia, Melville, and Rockville Centre. Each site collects anywhere from 100 to 150 units of platelets per day and from 500 and 700 pints of whole blood per day.

“More is better,” K. said, declining to give her last name. “We strive for as many donors to come and donate as possible.”

According to information distributed at the drive, over 800 pints of blood are needed every day to help patients in Long Island hospitals, but only 2 percent of Long Islanders participate.

“If 60 percent of able bodied adults are able to medically donate blood, but only 2 percent do, that's a stark statistic. Everybody needs blood,” fist time blood donor Esteban Mendiolaza said. The center’s message has been making an impact on the community as the event saw a lot of returning donors.

“I’m getting close to about six gallons now,” recalled Frank Lackner, who tries to give blood about two or three times a year and stated that it makes him feel good to know he is helping.

Donor Kathy Fabiszewski also described herself as a member of the “gallon club.” Fabiszewski has been donating blood for the past 20 years and has given a couple of gallons.

The blood drive was open to anyone from 16 – with the consent of a parent – to 75 years old. Anyone over 75 required a doctor’s note in order to donate. Many donors make an appointment, but this year saw a rise in the number of walk-in donors with 10 residents arriving early in the day.

“It’s a nice surprise. It’s encouraging, very encouraging,” program coordinator Pat Lackner said.

After finishing the donation process, the donors were given juice to drink and provided with cookies and pretzels. Many donors sat around and discussed their reasons for donating and about their future plans to help. K. understands the importance of the donors and the help that they’ve given to many around the area.

“They’re taking their time to come here, and we take that into consideration that they’re taking their time to come and donate,” she said. “They know the importance behind it in saving someone’s life.”