Hauppauge, NY (SmithtownRadio.com) – The second annual Bloodfest yielded 124 donated pints of blood Wednesday in Hauppauge.
A total of 125 donors showed outside the Hauppauge office of Suffolk County Legislature John M. Kennedy, Jr. to donate blood. Two separate teams of Long Island Blood Services phlebotomists were inundated with willing donors throughout the afternoon, which also featured a barbecue and live music. All told, the equivalent of 124 pints of blood were donated, surpassing the 97 pints generated at Bloodfest I in August 2010 as well as any blood drive hosted by a county official in recent memory.
A band consisting of members from the county’s Information Technology Department performed a number of classic rock songs and featured guest singers incldung County Treasurer Angie Carpenter, Smithtown attorney John Zollo and county Legislator Thomas Cilmi (10th District).
Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Food Bank was also represented, and food or money donors to Long Island Cares also received free lunch at Kennedy’s office Wednesday. In addition, each person who screened to donate blood at Bloodfest II will be mailed two free tickets to a New York Mets home game later this season.
The food and beverages were donated by Janson ShopRite, King Cullen and Costco. The Stony Brook University Rugby Team supplied tents and other materials, as well as prospective blood donors.
“The success of Bloodfest II is due to the generous and enthusiastic participation of all our cosponsors, entertainers and donors,” said Legislator Kennedy. “Wednesday’s tremendous yield of lifesaving blood parts is a testament to the altruism of the employees of Suffolk County and the residents and friends of District 12, and will hopefully serve as a source of inspiration and comfort to those in our community in need of blood transfusions.”
Thus far, Legislator Kennedy’s 2011 Blood, Sweat and Fairs Tour of blood drives at community events has generated 212 pints of generated blood. The next venue on his tour will be a blood drive Sunday, September 4 at Ronkonkoma Day Street Fair from 11 am to 5 pm. Prospective donors should: bring identification bearing signature or photo; maintain a minimum weight of 110 pounds; be between 16 and 75 years of age (16 year olds must have parental permission; those age 76 and over require a doctor’s note); eat low-fat foods and drink plenty of fluids; and have received no tattoos in the past 12 months. With questions regarding medical eligibility, call 1-800-688-0900.
