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District Council 21 President Joe Ashdale was the first among 90 volunteers to step up and donate Tuesday during the day-long blood drive at the District 21 Union Hall in Northeast Philadelphia.
"I thought they were gonna hit me with a six-foot needle to maintain social distancing," Ashdale said, laughing. "We have people from all walks of life coming to donate. We have painters, glazers — school teachers have been here. Signed up, and they filled the schedule."
Filling the schedule, he says, is part of filling a big need for the Red Cross.
"The typical collection sites, whether they be high schools, college campuses, work sites — they are unavailable," he said. "So if we can provide sites like this and make it available to whoever is willing to help, we’re happy to do it."
Red Cross Supervisor Terry Boylan says masks and gloves are mandatory for the staff. They’ve also made some procedural changes for the donors.
"Everything has to be six feet. We have our chairs set up, our health histories, our donor beds and canteen set up. Our prescreening is set up outside for temperatures. If it’s 99.5 or above, you can’t come in," Boylan said.
This is the first of what the union says will be many blood drives to come.