Give A Gift That Can Save A Life’Give Blood

The Rockport Navy Committee is sponsoring a Holiday Blood Drive at the First Baptist Church
4 High Street, Rockport on Saturday December 5, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in conjunction with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). There’s limited parking at the church. Additional blood drive parking is available at the former Masonic Hall on the corner of Broadway and School Street.

This year’s blood drive is dedicated to those who have served and are still serving in the US military and Rockport firefighter Kris Juncker Jr. who was treated at Mass General Hospital earlier this year. Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with written parental permission). Donors over 65 please call 617-726-8171 for special guidelines. Most healthy people over 65 CAN donate.

To make donating as easy and comfortable as possible, MGH will bring a state of the art bloodmobile completely staffed with a RN, phlebotomists, and/or LPNs. The bloodmobile is entirely self-contained with four donor beds, two soundproof medical history booths and snack area.

Blood is a medicine that can only be given from one person to another – no other source is currently available. Blood supplies often run low during the holiday season due to increased need and donors feeling they’re too busy to donate. A half hour can save three or four lives! Challenge your friends and family to give blood. The bloodmobile can accommodate three to four people every fifteen minute. Make your appointment early and donate as a group!

For those who cannot give blood there’s another opportunity to help by donating small stuffed animals, hand-held games and tween/teen puzzle/crossword books to be distributed to the children in MGH and at Shriners Hospital. The stuffed animals must be NEW and 6-10 inches. Donating a gift to a hospitalized child is a wonderful opportunity to teach children about compassion and the spirit of giving.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Sharon at 978-290-1393 or go to www.rocnavcom.org.

Also happening that day: Santa will be arriving by boat at 1:00 p.m. and the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Dock Square will begin at 4:00 p.m.