To the Editor:
With much pride and appreciation we report that 62 units of blood were donated to the American Red Cross on Sept. 20 at the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle.
For those who wonder what will happen to the blood that has been donated, we are told it is taken immediately to the American Red Cross in Dedham, Mass., where it is separated into key components, including red cells which are used in surgery, plasma for burn patients, and platelets for patients suffering from leukemia. Thus we find that each single donation may help as many as three hospital patients, meaning that through the contribution of 62 units of blood, 186 people could be helped in fighting almost any medical problem they may be faced with.
We thank all the people who helped to make this drive successful, members of St. Andrew’s Church and the Second Congregational Church who helped to man the event, and those of St. Patrick’s Church who, with friends, provided goodies for the donors to enjoy. We are always grateful, also, to Romeo’s for donating unlimited pizza that is so much enjoyed by donors and volunteers. At the end of the drive, our ever faithful Deck House boys were on hand to help the Red Cross workers in reloading equipment and supplies into their truck, a service much appreciated at the end of a long and tiring day.
We thank everyone who contributed toward making this event a success, and most of all we thank those who took the time from their busy days to make this very important contribution – their gift of life.
The next blood drive to be conducted at the Congregational Church will be Feb. 18. Mark your calendars.
Rosie Wilt, Maureen McNiff
Area Blood Drive Coordinators, Damariscotta
