PTA Blood Drive a Big Success

The Plainview-Old Bethpage PTA Council's most recent blood drive is being called one its most successful to date.

The group's winter blood drive collected 119 pints of blood in total, a figure that potentially could save more than 350 lives, organizers said.

"These are amazing results - this is one of the most successful drives we've held in the past 5 years, at least," said Colleen Mack-Savino, one of the chairpersons for the drive. "Even more impressive is that we brought approximately 150 donors through the door, which is 30 - 45 more donors than we normally see at this drive.

Typically, some donors were deferred for various reasons, such as illness and medications.

Mack-Savino, who co-chairs the blood committee with Julie Kessler and Beverly Sender, said more faculty and staff donated this year than the group has seen in years. She said the outstanding numbers are even more impressive, given the blood drive's short preparation time given Hurricane Sandy.

"We could not have achieved these stellar results without the dedication of our committee members, our class parents and our school administration," she said. "Most of all, we thank the donors who answered the critical call to donate. You helped make the holidays much brighter for many families in need of blood."