Hingham Residents Support American Red Cross at Town Hall

Not all gifts come wrapped in paper and with the winter months a traditionally difficult time to maintain blood supplies in Massachusetts, the American Red Cross was at Hingham Town Hall on Friday to collect pints of blood from willing, local donors.

Using a combination of regular blood donors and those who were donating for the first time, volunteers were anticipating that at least 45 pints would be collected at the Town Hall.

Apart from the chance to save somebody’s life, there was an added incentive with donors being given a Dunkin’ Donuts voucher to redeem as part of the “Give A Pint, Get A Pound” campaign that has been running in New England for five years. America might run on the company's coffee but communities in  Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut and New York have all encouraged residents to contribute to the blood drive. 

For five hours, a steady stream of residents from Hingham and the surrounding area were willing and able to give blood for the cause. With 55 appointments scheduled before the doors opened at 1 p.m., volunteers were confident that their daily target would be met. 

The American Red Cross relies on communities to support blood drives and every day there is somewhere in the area that will be collecting blood. All blood donated in Hingham is transported to a temperature controlled facility at Dedham and a source at the facility was happy to report that supplies are adequate to meet the requirements at this moment.

However, there is always a need for regular donations. According to the organization’s website, donors are eligible from the age of 17 and can donate every 56 days. There are certain steps to ensure that blood supplies are not contaminated and safeguards regarding recent tattoos, travel or even where donors have lived are zealously adhered to.

Those that can donate are likely to continue to do so. One donor, who asked not to be named, had donated “dozens of times” and joked that he saw the “same faces every time.”

Mark Plaice, a 21-year-old college student, had given blood all over Massachusetts and was using the wait time to catch up on his reading. “It’s the thought of doing a good deed and this is an easy way to do it,” said Plaice, a sentiment that was echoed by other residents sitting in the corridor patiently waiting to be called.

Richard Nowlan from Scituate works at the Town Hall and had donated 30 times before. “It’s convenient to do it here and I give blood whenever I can” he said. When asked about the pound of coffee, he laughed and admitted that he would “probably give it away.”

Ellie Handelman, a Hingham resident who was donating for the fourth time, was doing so because “it makes you feel nice.” Last year two of her relatives had needed blood and so she felt that she needed to “give something back.”

Residents who weren’t able to make it to the Town Hall on Friday should be aware that blood collection happens every day somewhere in the area. Blood donation is an important part of the community and, provided that you are eligible, there is always the chance to lie down for ten minutes of your time to “give a pint.”

For more information about the American Red Cross and where you can donate in the region, go to http://www.redcrossblood.org/