Guggenheim Hosts Annual Blood Drive

The New York Blood Center estimates that close to 2,000 people in any given community need blood transfusions every day. That's where the Guggenheim Elementary School Home School Association (HSA) comes in.

The group hosted the annual Port Washington Blood Drive, in conjunction with the New York Blood Center (www.nybloodcenter.org), at the elementary school on Friday, Jan. 22.

Sharon Goodman, who has now chaired the drive for the past two years, said the hardest part about organizing the event is getting enough volunteers to donate blood. However, she said, "Once they take the initial step, it feels so good that they continue to donate year after year."

Allison Weber is one of those who keeps coming back to donate more. "I feel like I'm saving lives and it doesn't hurt," said the lifelong Port resident who has been donating blood for 27 years.

Weber explained that blood can be donated every 56 days and added that she donates as often as she can. "They have to tell me to stop," she joked.

Chad Ferguson, a recent Air Force veteran who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany, said the amount of time it takes to donate blood – 10 to 12 minutes – is negligible compared to the number of people it helps. "I know first-hand how valuable it is." said Ferguson, who is now a full-time student. He added that the average person has between eight and 12 pints of blood so one pint, the usual donation, can be easily spared.

The New York Blood Center is just one of several organizations, including the American Red Cross, that replenishes the local blood supply. "While the Red Cross supplies 43 percent of the nation, the larger proportion is provided by independent, community-based non-profit blood centers," said Robert L. Jones, then-president of the center, in a 2008 letter to the New York Times. "The New York Blood Center processes more than 500,000 donations annually, safely supplying over 200 hospitals in the metropolitan area."

The Port Washington Blood Drive provides only a small part of the blood center's donations, but its obvious to many residents that every pint counts.

"I give blood because it's a volunteer thing," Jerry D'Agostino said. "Trust me, if I could give away $1 million dollars every week to help someone, I would."

For more information regarding medical eligibility for blood donation, call 1-800-688-0900.