Like many in the Shoreham-Wading River School District, Miller Avenue School second grade teacher Alice Steinbrecher and Wading River School nurse Anna Acker R.N. see a need and want to fulfil it. Together, they know that there is a national shortage of blood and every two seconds, someone in the country needs blood. Since 2000, Mrs. Steinbrecher has been organizing the blood drives at Wading River School with Mrs. Acker.

The dynamic duo attended a dinner hosted by the New York Blood Center to show appreciation and recognition for hosting the biannual blood drives, one in the fall and one in the spring. The recognition event took place at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury on May 8.
 
Some facts that motivate Mrs. Acker and Mrs. Steinbrecher to continue these drives are that one pint of blood can help three people; one out of three people will need blood in their lifetime and statistically 62% of the United States population is eligible to donate yet, according to the New York Blood Center, only 3% donate. Donors are eligible starting at 16 years of age. 

“Our last blood drive (held in April) collected 70 pints, which is our average,” Mrs. Acker said. “The next time there is a blood drive, think about donating and save a life. It only takes 20 minutes!”

Date Added: 5/9/2024