SOUND BEACH, NY — When John Drews was serving in Vietnam on a U.S. Navy destroyer, he learned the importance of blood donations.
And when he returned stateside, he continued donating blood. He raised his family, supported them as an electrician, and volunteered with the Sound Beach Fire Department.
It would have seemed he had little time left to spare, but he somehow always found the time to give blood.
"He was always somebody who wanted to help, always one of the first people who would offer to help," his son, John, also a volunteer firefighter, recalled Wednesday.
Whether it be friends, family, or someone he did not know, Drews did "whatever that needed to be done."
"Obviously, the volunteer service, you know, being in the fire department was important to him also," he said. "So, anytime he saw the opportunity to help, he took advantage of it — he helped. He was very much with the blood service, and that was a way to help somebody in their worst need type of thing."
He inspired his son, and two daughters, Michelle Hymowitz and Christine Kispner, and his grandchildren to donate, also.
To benefit the New York Blood Center, the Sound Beach Fire Department is hosting its annual blood drive in his memory on Wednesday at the firehouse.
The drive is hosted in partnership with Suffolk Legis. Chad Lennon, Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, State Sen. Anthony Palumbo, and State Assemb. Jodi Giglio.
It will run from 1 to 7 p.m.
When Drews, who was a beloved resident of the Sound Beach community, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, the fire department organized a blood drive to support his need for additional treatment.
But he did not live to see its benefits.He died 29 years ago after leading a life of service, and left a legacy of kindness that lives on in an annual event in his honor.
Wednesday's drive comes at "an especially critical time, as the blood center has just put out an urgent call for blood donors following severe storms over the Fourth of July holiday that significantly disrupted blood collection efforts across the New York region," center officials said.
"Due to excessive heat, widespread power outages, flooding, and storm damage, multiple donor centers experienced temporary closures and operational disruptions throughout the holiday week," the center said. "The regional blood supply currently stands at just a two-day level, well below the ideal five-to-seven-day supply needed to ensure hospitals have blood available whenever patients need it."
All blood types are urgently needed to help rebuild the blood supply and ensure hospitals have blood available for patients in need.
Drews' son remembers him as a good dad to himself and his sisters."He always made sure that we were taken care of," he said. "He had definitely the spirit of community, you know. The blood drive was just one example, and obviously, the fire service."
Drews also volunteered in the youth organization through St. Louis de Montfort R.C. Church and served as an usher there."A lot of it was based around service," his son said.
If there is anything that can be taken from his John Drews' story, it's the importance of the blood drive, and for people to come, his son says.
“They may not need it today, but they might need it tomorrow,” he said. “We've had people in the fire department that have had to get blood transfusions for various reasons, and one of the things they said afterwards was they were glad they donated when they did previously, because they ended up needing it themselves.”
“Obviously, it's not that same blood, but they needed blood,” he said.
You never know who might need blood in the future – it could be an accident that comes out of the blue.
“The need for blood is not something that you can predict,” he said.
What To Know:
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. To view current eligibility guidelines, or make an appointment, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit nybc.org.
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