CLAYMONT, Del. – The inaugural In Honor of Chris Skrobot Blood Drive booked more than 80 appointments and brought in 85 units, one of the largest blood drives held by Blood Bank of Delmarva this summer.
“We just put it out there on Facebook and let our friends and family know,” said blood drive coordinator Patti Dodd, Skrobot’s mother-in-law. “With Chris being so active in the police department and the fire house, people stepped up, came out, and volunteered.
“They just want to come out and do it for Chris; he’s such a loving person,” she added. “We want to make this an annual event.”
Indeed, Account Manager Gia Rivera said people were signing up as soon as the flyer went out into the community. This was her first in honor drive with the Blood Bank of Delmarva, and she looks forward to this being an annual tradition.
Skrobot’s wife, Caitlyn Skrobot, was among the first to sign up for the blood drive. She and Chris have two children. She exemplified one of the common types of donors on Sunday – lapsed donors.
“I donated in high school (Concord) and then again after he got diagnosed,” Caitlyn said. “It has been 10 plus years. But, when he started getting transfusions, I realized how important it was.”
She, her mother (Dodd) and her mother-in-law (Nick Skrobot) were all interviewed by Fox 29 Philadelphia.
“I mean, there’s really not words to thank everybody for all they’ve done for us,” Caitlyn told Fox 29.
In addition to Fox 29, Channel 6ABC Action News covered the drive as soon as it began at 9 o’clock that Sunday morning.
Casey Biddle also donated at the blood drive, and she brought her young daughter, Mackenzie, with her.
“Chris has been a very good family friend of ours for a very long time,” Biddle said. “I used to be heavily involved in donating to the Blood Bank of Delmarva with my grandfather, and I just need to get back into it. This is my motivation.”
In all, this blood drive brought in several, folks who hadn’t donated in a while but were inspired to donate by Chris
Family friend Dawn Brooks donated for the first time in 35 years, and Cathy DiCristofaro donated for the first time ever.
“Chris is part of our extended family,” DiCristofaro said. “We’re all part of the firehouse.”
Chris’ mom and dad, Nancy and Nick Skrobot, were among the family members at the blood drive, and Nick donated whole blood.
“I’m O negative,” Nick said. “I need to be a little more diligent about coming in and donating. People need it; I see that now more than ever. I was blessed with a blood type that everyone needs.”
Faith Albert donated for the second time and was emblematic of the number of young and first-time donors at this drive. Her first donation came at Delaware Military Academy, where she is a student.
“There’s people that are less fortunate, so anything I can do to help others I’ll do” Albert said. “Anything I can do to help.”
