The gym at the Garden School in Jackson Heights was not a place for sports equipment and athletic children, but instead teens waited to give blood and potentially help save a life.
The school held its second blood drive in conjunction with the New York Blood Center, and it was only open to students, parents and teachers. The school collected about 30 pints of blood for the city.
Daniel Valenza, 16, Cascia Valenza, 14, and Mary McKenna, 15, organized the blood drive. The event got its start after Cascia Valenza was in the hospital a year ago and had to be moved to the hematology unit. It was here Cascia Valenza said she saw the need for more people to give blood.
Daniela Triana, 16, was one of the students who gave blood this year. Even though she admitted she was happy to miss part of Math and Astronomy class to do it, but she knew she was helping.
-Alex Lang
