Covid-11th Annual Paul Cormier Memorial Blood Drive

05/02/2022

Council: 114 - BANGOR

Project Description:

The Covid-19 Pandemic has caused a critical blood shortage, and the Bangor Chapter of the American Red Cross has asked us to increase our support. Blood drives will now be scheduled twice per year. (The next one will be 11/19/22.)
With the support of Monseignor Dubois, and the St Paul the Apostle Parish office staff, we scheduled the 11th Annual Paul Cormier Memorial Blood Drive for April 9, 2022. (Paul Cormier was a very active Knight, who needed many units of blood during his fight against cancer. He wanted to thank the many donors who helped him… and this Memorial Blood Drive was proudly established in his honor. His wife and family have been active in this blood drive…and Germaine Cormier’s brownies were very popular again this year!)
Blood Drive posters were erected in each church 2 weeks before the drive. 11 Knights staffed 9 masses at 6 different churches, 1 week before the drive, to secure in-person blood sign-ups. The drive was announced in the parish bulletin and on the parish website and Facebook page for the 2 weeks prior to the 9th. 9 donors signed up online at redcrossblood.org. Rey Dubois called/emailed/texted many previous donors. Covid-19 precautions, masking, social distancing, and hand/equipment disinfecting were followed.
On the morning of 4/9, four Brothers helped the 5 red cross staff set up their equipment. 42 total donors successfully donated 42 units of blood (which has potential to save 84 lives!) Multiple Brothers donated AND did double-duty with registration, serving snacks, monitoring donors, scubbing down plinths, and final tear-down. A heartfelt thank-you was placed in the following weekend’s bulletin! This 42 units is 25% bigger than our previous best! Council 114 drives have collected a total of 348 units over the past 9 years! THANK-YOU BROTHER KNIGHTS!