Island Park fifth graders organize blood drive

On Jan. 10, for the second consecutive year, fifth graders at Island Park’s Lincoln Orens Middle School organized a community blood drive. The students participate in the Little Doctors Program, where teachers engage them in learning about the circulatory system and the emergencies that necessitate the need for blood donations.

As part of their lessons and the school’s ongoing community service initiative, the Little Doctors joined with Long Island Blood Services to sponsor the blood drive. The event was a tremendous success, with more than 50 individuals volunteering to donate.

School Board Vice President Richie Hayes (seated center) was one of the first to donate blood. Joining him following his donation is, from left, (seated) Robin Antila, Hegarty School Nurse; Nina Hargrove, School Board Trustee; Deborah Kraut, leave replacement teacher and blood donor; Matthew Tarasenko, physical education instructor and blood donor; (standing) Little Doctors participants Tristen Frantz, Drew Caracciolo, John Nurnberger, Joe McCallig, Emily Tejada, Taylor Keenan, Katie McMahon, Simone Jackson, and Lincoln Orens Middle School Nurse Joan McCreight.