Yorktown Girl Holds Blood Drive to "Save Lives," Inspired by Altruistic Efforts of Deceased Friend

For the second year in a row, a young Yorktown girl is holding a blood drive with the sole reason of helping people. 20-year-old Marina DiMattia said she hopes the community could come together this Saturday to potentially "save a life."

"I always felt very good about myself after I donated," Marina DiMattia said. "So hosting a blood drive was the next step for me." 

Her first blood drive last year was held in memory of a high school friend, on the one-year anniversary of Beth Schatkun's death. DiMattia was inspired by her friend's courage to be an organ donor and help others. 

"If Beth could gather the courage to do such a heroic thing, the least I could do was try to interest people in donating blood,” she said.

DiMattia collected 52 pints of blood from the drive last year. 

This year's blood drive will be held on Saturday, July 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 2600 Loretta St. She encourages everyone to come out and give blood.

“I want people to see that it really isn’t as bad as they think and that by donating and holding [blood drives], people can see the difference they are making," she said.

DiMattia has been working with the NY Blood Center the largest community-based, non-profit blood collection and distribution organizations in the U.S., to host her blood drive. The organization distributes its collected blood across the state.

The young woman is not only interested in helping people, but she is looking to make a career out of it. She is a nursing major at Salisbury University in Maryland, and currently interning in the oncology unit of The White Plains Hospital Center.

After seeing two blood transfusions within her first five days of work, she said she realized what a necessary supply blood is and wants people can realize the same.

"It can literally save someone’s life," she said. "You are truly helping out the people you see every day; you never know who may need a blood transfusion."

You are qualified to donate blood if you are:

• In physical good health
• At least 16 years of age
• Weigh at least 110lbs

You are NOT qualified to donate blood if you:

• Have taken aspirin or any other blood thinner within the previous 24 hours before donating blood
• Are pregnant
• Have been out of the country for at least three months. (You must wait 6-12 months to donate again)
• Have had any piercings or tattoos in the last year, you must wait a year before donating. 
• Have had a blood transfusion (You must wait a year to donate blood again)

(Qualifications courtesy of Marina DiMattia and CentralBloodBank.org)

Please contact Marina DiMattia at 914-962-3999 or med2217@gmail.com for more information.