Blood Giver, Drive Planner

Joann Zaharakos saw the call for donated blood from the New York Blood Center and wanted to help. A frequent donor herself—she gives platelets too, a more complicated process—she approached the Katonah-Bedford Hills Ambluance Corps, where she is a volunteer, about hosting a blood drive.

After weeks of planning, phone calls, a site inspection and getting the word out, the doors opened at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. A long line of cars parked on Bedford Road in the pouring rain, and a bustling room with a waiting line of donors was a good indication they were going to have a successful day, Zaharakos said.

"No one thought we'd have a good turnout, but look at this," she said, smiling.

Zaharakos knows some people just don't want to give blood—they're queasy, don't like needles, think it will take too much time out of a busy day. But she wanted to provide the opportunity to residents because the blood levels can become dangerously low this time of year.

According to the New York Blood Center, Spring is a good time to build up blood reserves, before summer holidays approach. "It's sad to say, but on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, more accidents occur and we need to build up the supply," Zaharakos said.

And platelets are needed too, she said, to help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The platelets help blood clot. That service wasn't available today, it can be done at the blood center in Elmsford, according to Zaharakos.

Zaharakos was quick to point out that she had help to make sure things ran smoothly.

John Stanley, a corps member and Katonah resident of 40 years, was also on hand to help. Stanley drives an ambulance three to four times per week. He greeted donors and helped distribute forms.

Marianne Delise, a member of the corps for five years, is now an EMT and serving on the front lines of local emergency care. At the blood drive she assisted with escorting donors from the table to the snack area.

And Mike Ricci, volunteer at the corps for six months, was there because he "likes to help people." A senior at Kennedy Catholic, he hopes to enroll in a pre-med program at Notre Dame this Fall.

The New York Blood Center sent four nurses and technicians down to Katonah to help administer the drive. They took temperatures, filled out donor questionnaires and drew bags of blood from volunteer donors.

Zaharakos moved to Bedford Hills in 2002 and loves it here. She has volunteered at the 80-member ambulance corps for just over a year, and also owns a home-based business selling Amway products. She said she's going to undertake the EMT and paramedic training program, and always hopes to be able to help others.

"If I need help someday, I hope someone will be kind enough to give it to me," she said. "You've got to pay it forward."

Editor's note: Marianne Delise's name was incorrectly spelled with a T, not a D, and has been corrected. She is also an EMT, not a paramedic. This story is updated.