ELKTON, Md. – The inaugural In Honor of the Handy Family Blood Drive was a resounding success as family, friends, and community members rallied to book all 66 appointments at Maryland Beer Company on Friday, August 2.
The blood drive brought 42 red cell units to Blood Bank of Delmarva (BBD).
The blood drive celebrated a Cecil Couny, Md. family that was helped by the BBD mission to provide lifesaving blood products to the Delmarva community. After Samantha Handy recently gave birth to her youngest daughter, Luci, they both needed lifesaving blood transfusions. Samantha and her husband, Shane, were at the blood drive with Luci.
Samantha is grateful for the miracle of blood transfusions that saved her life and her baby. She became emotional as she saw the outpouring of support at the blood drive.
“All of the years that I’ve given back to everybody for the last 15 years I’ve been in business has really paid off,” she said. “It’s a lot for me.”
Samantha’s newborn baby was awake and looking around, showing her healthy curiosity at the activity of the squadron of volunteers helping to set up the benefit auction that occurred in conjunction with the blood drive to benefit the Handy family.
Family friend Brittany Lombardi coordinated this blood drive, which was supported by the community in an enormous way. In addition, Lombardi’s blood drive was published in The Cecil Whig, the local newspaper, helping to raise awareness about this important community event.
“I went to school with Sam, and she’s a local photographer,” Lombardi said. “Their family is well known in Cecil County, and they do a lot of community service themselves.”
Karen Handy, Luci’s grandmother, was among the donors.
“It’s been years since I donated blood,” Karen said. “It was there for Sam and the baby when they needed it, so… Thank you for doing this.”
Denyce Kellum donated at about the same time as Karen.
“Sam is our family photographer, and I also had a son in the NICU. He had transfusions, and I’m happy to donate.”
This drive also attracted 18 first-time donors.
Family cousin Brianna Handy also donated with her friend Emily Ward. Briann and Emily are nurses at local hospitals, and they see the need for blood regularly. They and many donors all expressed a desire to show support for the Handy family.
