WILMINGTON, Del. – The Delaware State Bar Association and the United Way of Delaware
co-hosted a successful Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Blood Drive on Monday, January 15 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront.
The blood drive was held after the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast and Statewide Day of Service held early Monday morning.
Every Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the DSBA encourages members to help out the community in various ways. Participating in the blood drive was one of the options, Blood Bank of Delmarva Director Account Manager Gia Rivera said.
United Way of Delaware, which has worked with DSBA, also wanted to host a blood drive on MLK Day, Gia said. So, they signed on as a co-sponsor.
“Both organizations did a wonderful job recruiting for this blood drive,” she added.
BBD Director of Donor Recruitment Joanna Arat was impressed with the latest addition to our celebration of National Blood Donor Month this January, a critical collections period.
“This blood drive had a goal of 18, and they exceeded that with a total of 25 donors,” said. “That’s awesome.”
Among the donors were Wilmington University Student Bar Association President Genesis Joma and Secretary Britton Ody, both students at WU Law School.
“At the law school, we all wanted to do something for MLK Day, and this was one of the things we saw that we could sign up for,” Britton said. “It’s a good way to give back to the community today.”
This was his first time donating blood.
“Happy MLK Day,” he added. “This was the easiest way to give back.”
Genesis agreed.
“I’m SBA President; I can’t not donate,” she said.
Alexandria Shaffer, Assistant Public Defender at the Delaware Office of Defense Services, donated at the MLK Day Blood Drive as well.
“It’s something I can do to give back,” she said. “It’s another form of community service. I’m AB positive, and I know that’ a little harder to get.”
Garrett Moritz and David Ross, attorneys with Ross Aronstam & Moritz LLP, also took time to donate on Monday after the breakfast. Both gentlemen are regular blood donors.
“One of the service projects you could do was give blood, and it was very conveniently located,” Garrett said.
David opined that the Blood Bank of Delmarva should come to the Riverfront more often. Duly noted, sir.
Wilmington University instructor Mike Eckrich donated at this blood drive in order to get back into the swing of things.
“I hadn’t done it in years, and it was a nice, easy way for me to give back,” he said.
Other donors included Greg Skolnik, a lawyer with Heckler & Frabizzio; Maya Jackson, an attorney with Richardson, Layton & Finger; and Maria del Carmen Sendina-Nunez, who was a walk in.
