Roxana Fire Co. Hosts Blood Drive for Blood Bank of Delmarva

ROXANA, De- The Roxana Fire Company Teamed up with the Delmarva Blood Bank to host their annual winter blood drive Wednesday.

“You lead by example we are donors to everyone here at the station and we try to get as many people here as we can,” said Blood Drive Chairman and Roxana Fire Company member Charlie Herbert.

He tells us, helping out the Delmarva Blood Bank by donating blood and potentially saving a life is a privilege.

“It’s just a good feeling to be able to do that, I do the double red which is above and beyond what people normally do so I’m just glad to be able to do that,” he said.

Donations from the nearly 40 people who gave blood at the clinic are crucial, according to the Blood Bank of Delmarva, who say the need in this area for blood is only increasing.

“We are seeing a greater need for the blood products from the cancer clinics, emergency rooms, and operating rooms and with the population increase down here we are seeing an increased need,” said Account Manager Bryan Shepherd adding “One donor can help 3 people.”

Shepherd says they’re thankful to the fire company for donating the space, as the pandemic has increased their reliance on other, larger venues to meet their mission of more than 75 thousand units a year of blood.

“Because of the pandemic we have not been able to use our blood mobiles our busses so a place like Roxanna has this social hall and they were gracious enough to let us come in and use it,” he said.

He tells us they are always on the look for new venues and locations, and that the applicable venue must have 1,500 square feet of space and plenty of power outlets, and room for medical equipment.