Readers Write: Save lives by giving blood

The Island Now

I would like to impress upon the masses the importance of donating blood. As Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Brooklyn and Queens Diocese said at an awards ceremony at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston, where many were being honored for running blood drives in 2016, “the donation of blood is a sign of social-consciousness because unless people are willing to donate blood, the health of our communities will not do very well.”

I’m grand knight of St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus council #5911. As chairman of our annual blood drive along with my co-chairman Giuseppe Petruso and with Boy Scout troop #153 we run two blood drives a year at St. Anastasia Parish in Douglaston with permission from Msgr. Sherman.

Now my question is: would you like to save three lives? Giving one pint of blood does just that. Also those who donate blood help many people. From organ transplants to heart surgeries. Today’s advanced care relies on blood transfusions. When one person donates a unit of blood it can be separated into individual components to save multiple lives. Blood donors help meet daily transfusion needs of cancer and surgery patients, accident and burn victims, newborns  and mothers delivering babies, AIDS and sickle cell anemia patients and many more.  

Our next blood drive is on Sunday, June 3. It begins at 8:45 a.m. to 2:30  p.m. at St. Anastasia parish located in Father Smith Hall at 245-14 245th St. in Douglaston. 

The need for blood is constant. Did you know that our local hospitals need 2,000 pints a day? You never know when someone you know needs blood, or even yourself. So if you can, please give the gift of life. You will be glad that you did.

Frederick R. Bedell Jr.

Mineola, N.Y.

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