Junior Aid hosts blood drive with Boston Children’s Hospital

Special to The Advocate

  Thanks to the Junior Aid Association of Malden, the Boston Children’s Hospital Bloodmobile visited Malden Police Department Headquarters on Saturday, November 5. The blood drive brought 30 successful units of blood back to the Boston hospital. Each unit donated will help four children. The blood drive ran for six hours and had 40 preregistered donors.

  The Junior Aid Association of Malden Blood Drive Committee is chaired by Cassie Fonseca and other committee members are Paula Higgins, Mary Beth Leon and Maria Luise. The drive was held in memory of Richard Thomas Higgins III, a Malden native who passed away in February due to complications following an organ transplant.

  “The United States currently has the worst blood shortage in over a decade. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illness and traumatic injuries. Lifesaving care begins with one person donating blood. Most people don’t think about blood donations until they have a personal connection to someone who needs it, which is when they realize the severity of the shortage,” said Malden Junior Aid President Susan Higgins. “Our organization is thrilled to play a small role in the lives of Boston Children’s Hospital patients who are in need of blood.”

  The Boston Children’s Blood Donor Center is an independent collection facility serving the needs of pediatric patients in the Longwood Medical Area. If you are eligible, please consider meeting the needs of young patients by donating. To donate blood, platelets or plasma, visit: bostonchildrens.org/halfpints