Blood Drive Held In Memory Of Beloved Levittown Teacher

LEVITTOWN, NY — A beloved teacher who lost his second battle battle with cancer last year is being remembered in a special blood drive on Thursday by the senior class of Island Trees High School, organizers said.

The drive, which has been organized in memory of 45-year-old Daniel Haggerty who died last March, is being held in conjunction with Island Trees High School and New York Blood Center, according to a news release.

It will be held at Gateway Church from 2 to 8 p.m. The church, which donated the space, is located at 50 Wolcott Rd., Levittown.

Organizers urged donors to sign up, noting it only takes one hour to donate blood, and a single donation can save multiple lives. One in seven people admitted to the hospital requires a blood transfusion, and right now, those in need include cancer patients, as well as accident, burn, and other trauma victims, organizers said.

Others who might require a blood transfusion include newborn babies and their mothers, organ transplant recipients, patients who underwent surgery, as well as chronically transfused patients suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia or Thalassemia, and many more blood and connective tissue disorders, according to organizers.

“Extra COVID-19 precautions” will be in effect to help prevent the person-to-person spread of the virus, organizers said, warning that prospective donors are not eligible to donate if they are experiencing a cold, sore throat, respiratory infection or flu-like symptoms.

Additional information on donor eligibility and COVID-19 precautions can be found here.

Blood donations can be made by appointment only by emailing salahverdian@islandtrees.org, or by signing up at https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/279409.