Credit union holds blood drive to help Red Cross

SAUGUS – Donors at Tuesday?s blood drive at Webster First Federal Credit Union on Main Street in Saugus got a nice boost if they were feeling sluggish after donating: a voucher for a pound of Dunkin? Donuts coffee.Branch Manager Marcella Walsh said Webster First decided to hold the blood drive after another venue canceled on the American Red Cross.?We held one back in 2008 when we had first kind of opened the building,” she said. “We held the blood drive to see how it worked and we did have a lot of extra space that wasn?t being utilized. We got off it for a little while but then they called us and asked if we had some space on the 22nd.”Walsh told the Red Cross “of course,” and despite being such short notice, the bank was able to work out all the details.?It was a little short notice, but we got there,” she said. “We have a lot of supporters of the American Red Cross. I?m a cardholder myself.”About a dozen people had been in by Tuesday afternoon as the downstairs offices were converted into a blood donation center, with tables, gurney and Red Cross nurses.?One of the gentlemen who was drawing me told me we?re so close to all the Boston area hospitals that it makes a big difference for them to collect in this area,” said Walsh. “Between Childrens Hospital, Dana Farber ? we?re saturated here in Boston.”Outside the bank, several signs were staked into the ground advertising the blood drive.?Our membership knew about it through fliers and word of mouth here in the branches,” said Walsh. “We did get a few press releases out. For short notice it?s never enough blood.”John Smolinsky, Vice President of Business Development for Webster First Federal, was laying on a gurney Tuesday as a nurse prepared to draw blood.?It?s a way of helping people in need,” he said. “It?s something we take for granted, our health, and I don?t think many of us realize how much a need there is for blood. I think I have the most common O-type blood and it?s the one that?s needed the most.”Smolinsky said his father was a regular donor to the Red Cross, which is why he took up the mantle as well.?I picked it up from him,” said Smolinsky. “It certainly doesn?t take a lot of time and they?re all so nice. I used to go up to Peabody. For years and years I was a regular donor. And then it?s one those things where once you get out of the routine, I didn?t realize, I just looked at the card she gave me and the last donation I had made was in 1994. I was thinking, ?Shame on me. It?s been 17 years since I?ve given and I used to give all the time.? I had two or three donor cards full.”While turnout wasn?t as high as it could have been due to the short notice, Smolinksy said he hopes to continue holding blood drives for the Red Cross in the future.?It?s a great community service,” he said. “It certainly doesn?t set us back anything monetarily and the space is not being used as much as we would like.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].