Community Corner

Girl Scouts Hold Chappaqua Blood Drive

Girl Scouts involved helped with event to fulfill community service requirement for awards.

On a Saturday afternoon, the Town of New Castle's assembly room at Town Hall in Chappaqua was transformed into a blood drive center to volunteering participants.

The March 13 event was held by the Junior Girls Scouts, two of whom – fifth graders Meaghan Townsend and Catherine Bilodeau – were working to earn their Bronze Awards.

Lori Townsend, troop leader for Troop 1023 in Chappaqua and Meaghan Townsend's mother, said that it is the highest award that Junior Girl Scouts can earn and requires volunteer service. Troops have run the blood drive annually for 12 years, she said. Usually it was held in the fall but this time it was done in the spring. She also said that the girls learned in the their research that blood is a valuable commodity and who can and can't donate.

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Meaghan Townsend said that she spent time coordinating with other scouts and calling people about their appointments for the drive. When asked how people who donated felt, she said most of them were happy that they had done something good for the community.

People who donated could get a free box of Girl Scout Cookies, as well as complimentary snacks, Meaghan Townsend said,

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Materials and work for the event was provided by the New York Blood Center.

"They make it very easy for us to facilitate this in our community," Lori Townsend said in describing their role,

Samantha McManus, a 13-year-old Girl Scout from Troop 2746, was helping at the event to earn hours for her Silver Award. She felt that it was good to help out at the event, because while she is too young to donate blood, she felt like she was making a difference.

Blood donors gave their thoughts on helping out.

"It was fine," said Millwood resident Laura Bays. "I've given blood before. I have good veins, so it was an easy process."

Bays was given a plastic baseball to squeeze while doing it, which she said makes the blood pump faster.

Carol Maher, Chappaqua, was also on hand to donate. Maher led a scout troop, Troop 1444, that ran the event until 2007.

Maher said it was great to donate, and said that she looked forward to doing the Girl Scout drive, as well as a blood drive that is held annually by the Rotary Club. Maher also used an object – a squeegee ball in the shape of a blood drop – while she was donating.

Matt Townsend, Meaghan's older brother and basketball star at Horace Greeley High School, also turned out to donate. He said that it was his first time, but was glad to help.

Ehizogie Ehioghiren, a phlebotomist from the New York Blood Center came to help with the drive. She said that it was her pleasure and that she loves her job. 


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