Summit Fire Department blood drive draws a crowd

Summit Trustee Sonia Ponce (from left), Trustee Lorena Manriquez, Maura Serrato, and Trustee Aurora Rodriguez find time to donate.

By Carol McGowan

The Summit Fire Department, along with the Village of Summit, and the Argo Summit Lions Club held a blood drive this past Saturday, and it drew a crowd that even impressed the American Red Cross.

It took place from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with non-stop donors walking through the door.

Fire Chief Anthony Anderson was happy with the turnout.

“It really turned out nice. We had an impressive number of donors and we will do this again,” he said.

Donors were asked to register online beforehand so the Red Cross would have an idea of how many supplies to bring to accommodate those donating.

At the end of the day, 37 individuals had donated.

Even more walked in to donate, but since so many had registered, the donation times were taken.

Diane Ponce with the Argo-Summit Lions Club said the American Red Cross workers were impressed.

“When I was talking with one of them while they were packing up, she said they normally see 10 or maybe 15 people come to donation events,” said Ponce. “She said we were the only location that has ever had this many people and donations. Even they were surprised.”

Summit Mayor Sergio Rodriguez, who is also an Argo-Summit Lions Club member, was on hand, as well as several village trustees who also raised up their sleeves.

Many Lions Club members donated their time to help register folks as they walked in, and provided orange juice and snacks to those after they donated.

Chief Anderson said this was one of a few things he has planned for the community.

“Our recent CPR classes were well attended, and this was a great blood drive for our first one,” he said. “We are planning a class on how to use a fire extinguisher, and are also putting together ideas for a general safety class to cover a lot of basics for residents for home safety and such.

“The Summit Police Department recently held a Stop the Bleed class that I attended and that went great as well.  Our residents are interested in these sorts of classes, and I would like to keep them going. We are more than happy to be informative and do whatever we can to help.”