| People
began arriving at the doors of Community Blood Services (CBS)
just minutes after reports of the terrorist attacks on Manhattan�s
World Trade Center. By mid-day, the line of prospective blood
donors snaked around the building. |
| Brian
Morris of Hawthorne, NJ was one of those on line. |
| "I
was up at school when I heard and got in my car and came right
down," said Morris, a student at William Paterson University
in Wayne, NJ. "I don't care how long I have to wait on this
line, I need to be here." |
| Mr.
Morris told CBS staff that he has an uncle who works in one
of the World Trade Center's offices, and that he hadn't yet
heard any news about his whereabouts or condition. |
| "How
can I just go home without helping somehow?" he said, adding
that the sense of urgency was even greater for him because he
was also a member of the local ambulance corps. |
| �The
outpouring of care from our community was phenomenal,� said
Dennis Todd, president and CEO of the blood center. �People
not only donated blood, but many stayed on to help out by directing
traffic, distributing refreshments to people on line, and doing
just about anything that needed to be done.� |
| �People
just needed to help,� said Todd. |
| Between
15,000 and 20,000 people came to donate blood at Community Blood
Services between Tuesday and Friday. |
| Many
of those on line were first-time donors. Annie Yoo, a Bergen
County woman who attends Columbia University, was one of many
who found themselves wondering how they could help. |
| "I
heard on the car radio that they needed blood," said Ms. Yoo.
"I've never done this before but it's a matter of humanity�
I wish I could do more." |
| Ramapo
College in Mahwah, NJ shuttled students down to the Paramus
blood center. Many car-pooled or walked many blocks to stand
on line. |
| Del
and Ben Turgelsky hoped to donate blood, but were told that
the center was placing a priority on Type-O donors and that
they would be called back. But instead of returning home, the
Turgeksys volunteered their services to the blood center for
the rest of the afternoon. |
| "I
hope this helps even a little bit. These workers are so busy
here," said Del Turgelsky. |
| Todd
said that the crisis is by no means over. He stressed that the
public should know that as blood and blood products are distributed
to local hospitals, there will be a need to quickly replenish
supplies. |
| �Our
staff will be calling all those who left their names to begin
scheduling appointments over the next several weeks," said Todd,
adding that donors were also asked to consider donating plasma
and platelets, as well as whole blood in the weeks to come. |
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