Maria Regina Students, Staff, Community Turn Out To Donate Blood

HARTSDALE, NY — More than 50 people rolled up their sleeves to give blood at a recent community drive held at the Maria Regina High School gymnasium.

Fifty-four administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents and other supporters helped address the year’s first blood emergency, potentially saving the lives of 154 area hospital patients.

Organizers said the donations collected at Maria Regina will help save the lives of cancer patients, victims of accidents, burns and trauma, newborn babies, women in labor, transplant and surgery patients and more.

The New York Blood Center, which declared its first emergency for 2023 on March 6, said that 4.5 million Americans receive blood transfusions yearly, and 40,000 pints are transfused daily in the United States.

One of those donating was Allison Morelo, class of 2023, and the National Honor Society president.

The Yonkers resident told Patch that the significance of giving blood was not lost on her.

“Something as small as a single blood donation can change someone’s life in the biggest way,” she said.

The community blood drive was organized by the school’s National Honor Society chapter, members of the organization and their moderator, Math Department Chairwoman Karen Lizzo, class of 1990.

Lizzo said she was thrilled with the turnout and proud of the school community that supported the drive.

“The National Honor Society students, who sponsored the blood drive, not only gave blood but also volunteered their time to work the canteen area and escort donors to the donation area,” she said.

“Hopefully, our students, who were first-time donors, will become lifelong donors,” Lizzo said.

To make a blood donation and learn more about the New York Blood Center, a nonprofit organization that is one of the largest independent, community-based blood centers in the world, visit its website.