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By MARK TODD And BILL WEST Staff Writers American Red Cross work ers have been flooded with area residents anxious to donate blood to help victims of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C. A Bloodmobile center in Andover on Tuesday collect ed 100 pints of blood from a crowd of people, said Brenda Caruso, donor recruitment coordinator for Ashtabula County. “We were staffed to collect 50 pints (at the site),” she said. Red Cross officials at a donation center held in Orwell on Wednesday said collections tripled original estimates. “We had 150 people signed in, 58 of them in the first hour,” Caruso said. Officials said they appre ciated the response, but asked people to consider giv ing blood in the weeks ahead as well. “The need for blood will be ongoing and continuous, according to a statement. “For that reason, we ask that donors consider giving blood during the coming days and weeks. Donations must be ongoing because blood components have a finite shelf life. “Donations made at a later date will have the same impact as those made today, officials said. Caruso said the response is overwhelming Red Cross laboratories and testing cen ters. “We test every pint,” she said. “That’s a lot of process ing, and they can only do so much a day. We're asking people to please come next week. This need is going to continue.” The Red Cross is in critical need of negative blood, according to the statement. At the Andover donor site, some 157 people appeared to give blood, Caruso said. The potential donors over whelmed the staff, creating delays, she said. “Some turned around and left because the wait was two to 2 1/2 hours,” Caruso said. Others had to be turned away when staff ran out of equipment needed to draw blood, she said. Donors logged many miles to give blood Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church in Orwell, and did so for a variety of reasons. Mark Lesinski of Middlefield routinely donates, but the terrorists’ attacks “made me want to donate more,” he said. The tragedy “definitely was the reason” Allison Ray mond of Geneva made the journey. “I felt helpless,” she said. “This was the least I could do.” Orwell resident Janis Byler, another regular donor, said she hoped the number of blood donors would be an example for oth ers. “I went to encourage young kids to donate.” Tammy Ledford of Con neaut said participation was a “way to extend help to the victims in New York City.” AREA BLOOD DRIVES SCHEDULED THIS WEEK INCLUDE: Thursday — Munson Town Hall, 12210 Auburn Road, Chardon (1-7 p.m.) Friday — Geneva First United Methodist Church, 89 S. Broadway, Geneva (noon-6 p.m.) Saturday — Jefferson Community Recreation Cen ter, 11 E. Jefferson St., Jef ferson (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) BILL WEST / Star Beacon TAMMY LEDFORD of Conneaut is prepared to donated blood Wednesday by Red Cross employee Amanda Abrams during a Red Cross Bloodmobile visit to St. Mary's Church in Orwell. BILL WEST / Star Beacon JANIS BYLER of Orwell keeps her arm raised Wednesday after donating blood during a Red Cross Bloodmobile visit at St. Mary's Church in Orwell.
Newspaper Details
Ashtabula Star Beacon
Ashtabula, Ohio, US
Thu, Sep 13, 2001
Page 21
Full Page
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USA 14 Sep 2026
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