The East Meadow Fire Department will be holding a memorial blood drive on May 5 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is in loving memory of former member Teresa Ackerly.
Ackerly passed away in December 2008 after a long 22 month fight multiple myeloma. She had begun her time in the department in 1983 as a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary and held several other positions, including two terms as president, throughout the years. Friends and family remember her as a "caring individual, always laughing and smiling."
Due to her condition, Ackerly benefitted greatly from blood transfusions. In her honor, the fire department wanted to host a blood drive to collect the life saving material on her birthday - May 4.
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According to the New York Blood Center, each donation of blood helps to save three lives. Visit www.nybloodcenter.org to see eligibility guidelines.
