Saving lives in Wantagh

The Wantagh community potentially saved 144 lives, as residents turned out to donate blood on Oct. 22. The annual event, hosted by the Wantagh PTA Council, resulted in the collection of 48 pints of blood.

Each pint of blood can help up to three people. The blood drive was held at Wantagh Elementary School and was done in partnership with the New York Blood Center. “I feel very passionate about this,” organizer Heidi Felix said. “It’s touched my personal life. It’s touched people I know.”

Felix, vice president of the PTA Council, said that her aunt is still alive at 90 years old because of a blood transfusion. She said with blood centers reporting low supplies, it is important for people to step up and give, and is grateful to all the Wantagh residents who made a donation two weeks ago.

“You always want to know that there’s a supply on hand,” she said. “There’s always going to be somebody in need of blood.”

One donor was Richard Schreiner, of Wantagh, who found out about the blood drive from a flier his daughter brought home from school. “I haven’t donated in a while,” he said, “so I thought it would be good to do it. It’s for a good cause.”

Emma Carey, 16, a student at Wantagh High School, donated for the first time. “I like giving,” she said. “I like having the thought that I may be saving someone’s life.”

Carey said although she felt lightheaded after donating and had to lay down, she chalked it up to it being her first time and would definitely give blood again.

About 50 volunteers from Wantagh High School’s Key Club helped out. They set up, put signs around the school leading people to the donation center, and provided a babysitting service in the school gym for parents who wanted to donate. “A lot of these kids aren’t old enough to donate,” Felix said. “If they can’t donate, it’s the next best thing.”

Among the volunteers were 10th-graders Sarah Corry and Ashley Battaglia. “I love helping the community,” Battaglia said. Corry added that when she turns 16, she will sign up to give blood.

The Wantagh Fire Department will be hosting a blood drive at its headquarters on Park Avenue on Nov. 17.