SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Exeter resident Jo-Anne Ricci -- who on
Wednesday attended the funeral of a family friend who died in The
Station fire in West Warwick -- was in South County Hospital yesterday,
giving blood.
"I've donated blood before -- but today it feels even more purposeful,"
Ricci said.
Ricci and her husband are friends with the Hobans of North Kingstown who
lost their 22-year-old son Andrew.
As she waited her turn to be called for a pre-donation interview, Ricci
recalled memories of Andrew, a gifted athlete who used to referee her
daughter's basketball games.
Ricci was one of many area residents who turned out to give blood.
Yesterday's was the first of several scheduled blood drives prompted by
the needs of dozens of hospitalized victims from last Friday's fire.
Although she doesn't personally know anyone who was hurt, Saunderstown
resident Denise Fecteau welcomed the drive as a way to help.
"It just makes you want to do something," Fecteau said of the sadness
that is gripping the state.
Lisa Schipritt not only gave blood, but also promoted the drive.
"I have been trying to talk up blood donation to everyone I see today,"
said Schipritt, who lives in Charlestown.
South County Hospital spokeswoman Liz Prager O'Brien described her
experience manning the hospital's phones from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. last
Friday.
"As the day wore on, the calls gradually changed from people looking for
their friends and relatives to people asking 'How can I help?,' "
O'Brien said.
The Rhode Island Blood Center answered the latter question by sending
several representatives to the hospital to collect blood. The Center
asks those who cannot make a scheduled drive to call for an appointment.
North Kingstown resident Michelle Bailey said she learned of the
importance of giving blood when she was a student at Rhode Island
College.
"I had a professor who always reminded us to donate," said Bailey.
The hospital has blood drives about four times a year, and Bailey always
participates -- but yesterday was different, she said.
"Everything that's going on made me want to give blood even more," she
said. "This is a great way to give back."
Area Blood Drives
In announcing a blood drive for next
Friday at Washington Trust's main office in Westerly, Jennifer McWeeney
of the Rhode Island Blood Center noted:
"Burn victims require blood over a period of weeks, and blood has a
short shelf life. By donating in March, you will help us replenish blood
supplies that are needed by area hospitals at a time when they really
need help."
Here are the scheduled South County blood drives and their sponsors:
Today -- South County Nursing & Subacute Care, Route 4 and Oak Hill
Road, North Kingstown, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. This drive is co-sponsored by
the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce.
Monday -- Charlestown community blood drive, Cross' Mills Fire
Department, 2370 Matunuck School House Road, 3 to 7 p.m.
Thursday -- Ashaway community blood drive, Activity Center, 188 Main
St., 3 to 7 p.m.
Friday, March 7 -- Washington Trust, main office, 23 Broad St.,
Westerly, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 11 -- Toray Plastics, Education/Wellness Center, 181
Cripe St., Quonset Point, North Kingsotwn, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday, March 12 -- Narragansett High School, auditorium, 245 Pier
Road, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 18 -- Wakefield Post Office, 551 Kingstown Road, South
Kingstown, 8 a.m. to noon.
Monday, March 24 -- Jamestown Ambulance at the Portuguese American Club,
134 Narragansett Ave., 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.
