AmeriCorp

AmeriCorp Conducts 2nd Annual Blood Drive
SYOSSET, NY - August 1, 2003

AmeriCorp’s first blood drive in 2002 was a great success. The Long Island Blood Services’ mobile staff was pleasantly surprised at the end of a day that had produced 38 life-giving pints of blood, which eventually helped 140 patients-in-need. This year the blood drive facilitators began their campaign early in hopes of increasing employee participation, even inviting family members to join their relatives as donors. The urgency was fueled by a chronic blood shortage in our region. Volunteerism has declined over the past two years; and the supply of European donations, which had contributed a very significant portion in the past, has been completely cut off because of possible contamination leading to Creutzfeld-Jakob disease.

Working from a pool of 143 employees, the drive attracted 69 volunteers, or 48% of those available. Others who desired to donate had been pre-screened and eliminated for medical reasons, and the blood mobile personnel had to exclude 16 others. Regardless, this year’s drive netted 53 donations, a 35% increase over last year’s exceptional numbers. Once again, the medical professionals were grateful for and impressed with the tremendous, well-above average turnout. Volunteerism remains alive and well at AmeriCorp.


Close window	AmeriCorp Conducts 2nd Annual Blood Drive SYOSSET, NY - August 1, 2003 AmeriCorp’s first blood drive in 2002 was a great success. The Long Island Blood Services’ mobile staff was pleasantly surprised at the end of a day that had produced 38 life-giving pints of blood, which eventually helped 140 patients-in-need. This year the blood drive facilitators began their campaign early in hopes of increasing employee participation, even inviting family members to join their relatives as donors. The urgency was fueled by a chronic blood shortage in our region. Volunteerism has declined over the past two years; and the supply of European donations, which had contributed a very significant portion in the past, has been completely cut off because of possible contamination leading to Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. Working from a pool of 143 employees, the drive attracted 69 volunteers, or 48% of those available. Others who desired to donate had been pre-screened and eliminated for medical reasons, and the blood mobile personnel had to exclude 16 others. Regardless, this year’s drive netted 53 donations, a 35% increase over last year’s exceptional numbers. Once again, the medical professionals were grateful for and impressed with the tremendous, well-above average turnout. Volunteerism remains alive and well at AmeriCorp.