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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- White Plains Hospital visitors and staff, including Denise Hanlon, collectively donated more than 35 pints of blood at the hospital's annual Halloween blood drive Monday.
Hanlon, a patient account supervisor at the hospital, said she's been giving blood for decades.
"Years ago, I was 18 at the time, I had a cousin who had aplastic anemia, and he needed white platelets. So they asked family members to donate," said Hanlon, a Yonkers resident.
Although her cousin didn't make it, Hanlon said she picked up a helpful habit and "has been donating ever since."
Jodi Creed, the hospitals blood donor recruitment director, decked out the hospital auditorium with orange and black streamers, mock-police tape reading "beware" and other Halloween-related decorations. Creed dressed up as a vampire and worked with other costume-clad staff to extract blood.
"This is really our first big success," Creed said of Monday's four-hour event. "From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in a short amount of time, we collected 35 pints. That's great."
Creed was named the hospital's new Blood Donor Recruitment Director last January and has since hosted over 30 donating events at the hospital, community centers, and local houses of worship.
"We transfused 400 units of blood last month alone. There's always a need and you can't get it synthetically or in a pill. The only way you can get it is by rolling up your sleeve and donating," said Creed, a Danbury, Ct. Resident. "All of the units we collect actually stay in the hospital and help patients."
Anyone interested in donating blood can set up a personal appointment with Creed.
Did you donate blood? Join the conversation below.
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