YORK, Pa. — Christmas may be over but that didn’t stop some Pennsylvanians from going out to give the gift of life.
It was a busy afternoon at an American Red Cross blood drive, hosted at Wyndham Garden York in West Manchester Township on Tuesday, as blood donors packed the ballroom to help others in a time of need.
For blood donor Christoper Murrestrada, it was a gift worth giving.
“I saw they were donating after the holidays, so I said, ‘Hey, what better time to give than after the holidays?’,” Murrestrada said.
As a veteran, Murrestrada understands the importance of helping others throughout the year.
“It’s been a constant thing, [it's] something I like to do. After the holidays is the best because I’m giving back,” Murrestrada said.
More than 50 donors were scheduled for Tuesday’s drive, and volunteers estimate they collected more than 30 pints of blood that’ll be used to save lives.
“I will always give blood, there’s no stopping me,” Murrestrada added.
Todd Lichtenberg donated blood twice in 2023 because of their rare blood type, type O.
Type O blood is considered universal, and can be used for anyone who needs a blood donation.
“It’s just about knowing that somebody out there needs it. It doesn’t matter the time of year, I want to go and do it [to] help in any way I can,” Lichtenberg said.
Lichtenberg believes that more young people like them should donate their blood at local drives, especially around the holidays.
“I know with scheduling it can be hard, but I know that they need younger people. The earlier you [donate], the more blood you can give,” Lichtenberg explained.
All the blood donated from Tuesday’s drive is expected to be transported to Baltimore and will eventually be distributed to healthcare centers across the country.
You can schedule an appointment for FOX43's blood drive on Jan. 11 at the York Jewish Community Center here.