[ back ]
11-07 Blood Drive to benefit HRMC and other area hospitals
(by Elsie Walker - November 07, 2008)
Rev. Bob Mayer is ready to give blood
The Rev. Bob Mayer is rolling up his sleeve on November 22. He’s hoping a lot of other people will come by the Drakestown United Methodist Church and do the same. That Saturday, from 10:00 - 1:30pm, a blood drive held at the church, will benefit the blood supplies at area hospitals, including Hackettstown Regional Medical Center. The church is located at 6 Church Street in Long Valley, just off Naughtright Road which runs by the Budd Lake A&P shopping plaza. It would be best if people pre-registered for the blood drive, though Mayer feels walk-ins will be taken. To pre-register, call Thomasina Makus 973-252-9352
Mayer noted that he first gave blood in 1998. He recalled that he had been prompted to give by a blood drive sign he saw as he was walking past a children’s hospital. Now he gives every year. He shared that while the process is painless and doesn’t take long to do, the results make a world of difference.
“ Every two seconds someone in the USA needs blood. Almost 5% of all hospitalized patients need a blood transfusion and each transfused patient uses an average of three units of blood,” said Mayer in sharing some of the facts he’s learned about the use of blood.
Added to that is the fact that giving helps exponentially. According to www.give2life.org, a Red Cross website: “Typically, each donated unit of blood - referred to as whole blood - is separated into multiple components, such as red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipatitated AHF (antihemophilic factor). Each component can be transfused to different individuals with different needs. Therefore, each donation can be used to help save as many as three lives.”
You might say that the blood drive was an answer to a prayer for the Drakestown United Methodist Church. It had been looking for an outreach, a way to touch the community. A group was meeting and praying about that.
“And the next thing you know Suzanne from the Blood Drive called! Since one of their hospitals is Hackettstown Regional Medical Center, it just made sense to do this.When God opens doors for us, we have to respond,” said Mayer.
[ back ]
