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Pocono News Section
Give the Gift of Life
Give the Gift of Life - Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 4:24PM EST
Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 @04:24pm EST
STROUD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY - The Red Cross says for every pint of blood you donate you can save up to three lives. That means Donald Waynar may have saved 300 people. He's given a pint of blood every 56 days since the 1940s.
"I feel that I feel better when I give blood and it makes me feel that I'm doing something for somebody," Waynar said as he donated at the Moose Lodge in Stroud Township Tuesday.
Donald has collected 16 gallon donation pins and he's working on his 17th. "It's sort of a personal present," he said.
A personal present that the Red Cross wishes more people would give. The Monroe County branch tells WBRE News blood supplies are critically low. "Pretty much as it comes in, it goes right out," explained Red Cross worker Karen Hallem.
There just aren't enough people like Donald who make donating a priority - so it's always hard to attract people to blood drives - especially during the holiday season. "It's such a giving season that if you can give before the giving season or through the giving season - it's good too," Hallam said.
Donations drop dramatically just before Thanksgiving through the new year because people get wrapped up in the festivities. But the Red Cross encourages everyone to make time to add a pint of blood to their gift list.
Hallam said, "You might be scared of needles. You might be scared of what's going on but just think about it. You can be saving up to three lives."
If you save three lives your first time, then make it a habit you could eventually give the gift of life to 300 people, just like Donald.
Monroe County's next blood drive is scheduled for Saturday at the Zion Lutheran Church in Brodheadsville. It runs from 9:30 a.m. through 2 p.m.
Donors will get free t-shirts.
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