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Austintown library helps Red Cross
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.The American Red Cross Bloodmobile, which facilitates donation processes throughout the community, was parked outside the Austintown library as part of the blood drive Jan. 26.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Lori Dobough, from the American Red Cross, is shown setting up the machine used to process double red cell donations at the Austintown library Jan. 26.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Lisa Kelley, who donated at the Jan. 26 blood drive at the Austintown library, has been a blood donor for nearly four years.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Greg Smith worked the processing table, preparing and sorting various components for the donation process, for the American Red Cross blood drive Jan. 26.
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Neighbors | Natalie Scott.Heather Ohl (left), Kylie Haynes, and Ashley Meyers (right) volunteered to help at the Red Cross blood drive in the Austintown library Jan. 26.
By NATALIE SCOTT
In an effort to get donations for the Mahoning Valley, the Red Cross had a blood drive at the Austintown library Jan. 26.
Many people came to help the drive, including Lisa Kelley, a donor who tries to come to the blood drives at least once a year.
“I got started donating about four years ago,” said Kelley. “It’s a good cause and I like to know that what I am doing is helping people.”
Donating is slowly becoming more popular in the area, helping out many people in area hospitals.
“Our goal for this drive is about 24 pints of blood and it seems like we will meet that goal,” said Brianna Hanshow of the Red Cross. “So far, we have about 30 people on the schedule, but we can always use more. We have a blood drive here once a month now and it would be great to see more donors.”
Many people shy away from donating blood because of a fear of needles, but advances in donating technology has made that less of a concern. Eligible donors can donate double red blood cells, which has a much smaller needle, but entails a longer procedure.
To learn more about donating blood or for a donation schedule, visit www.redcross.org.