As the world gears up for Giving Tuesday, an initiative that encourages charitable donations, AllOne Foundation and Charities is taking a unique approach by emphasizing not just financial contributions but also blood donations to address a critical shortage.
This year, the foundation aims to support 78 local health nonprofits by matching the first $1,000 raised for each while also urging individuals to give blood.
Addressing the Blood Supply Crisis
Mary Carroll Donahoe, the chief program officer at AllOne, highlighted a severe blood shortage affecting both the nation and the local community.
“As a health foundation and a health organization, we look to raise the awareness of the health issues and help these organizations make a difference on the health issues that plague our region,” she stated.
Lina Barbieri, the chief philanthropy officer at Miller-Keystone Blood Center, which serves 21 counties across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, echoed these concerns.
“There is a real blood shortage,” Barbieri explained. “It is a national issue. There has been a blood shortage since COVID. What was once a seven-day stock on the shelves is now a two-day stock.”
The local demand for blood is significantly higher than the donations received, with Barbieri noting, “We are delivering to our hospital partners in that region ten times more blood than we’re actually collecting from the community.”
During Giving Tuesday week, Miller-Keystone will organize six blood drives throughout Northeast Pennsylvania to help replenish the local supply.
AllOne’s online Give Day campaign includes vital blood drive information to encourage community participation.
Community-Driven Blood Drive at Toyota of Scranton
In a heartfelt effort, Toyota of Scranton will host a blood drive on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, dedicated to two individuals with close ties to their employees.
John Santiago, a mechanic at the dealership, shared the emotional journey of his daughter Adalee, who is battling leukemia and is currently in her second year of treatment.
“As a parent, it’s tough. Sometimes you have to swallow that pain and not cry in front of your kids,” Santiago said. “I just want her to live a normal life. So I come to work like nothing’s happening, I try to forget about everything.”
Tragically, Santiago’s coworker, John Nesbitt, faced a similar challenge when his wife Mary was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after Adalee. Despite receiving a bone marrow transplant, Mary passed away in October.
Reflecting on their shared ordeal, Santiago said, “It was just crazy how my daughter got diagnosed first and then… a couple of months later we found out [John’s] wife had it. It felt kind of like a virus spreading. It was weird. And it made me sad because I know the pain of someone you love going through something that you can’t control.”
Throughout these challenges, Santiago and Nesbitt found strength in the support from their colleagues, with Nesbitt recalling how he was contacted daily by coworkers while in New York for his wife’s treatment.
The dealership now calls on the community to contribute to the blood drive, aiming to help others like Adalee and Mary. “We’re ecstatic about it. It’s good to see people come together in tough times,” Santiago remarked, emphasizing that they are not alone in their struggle.
Miller-Keystone Blood Drives
To find organizations seeking support for Giving Tuesday through AllOne Give Day, visit this list.
