Mary Boatti is not your average 91-year-old.
Boatti, an Astoria resident for more than six generations, volunteers at the New York Blood Center six to eight times per month interacting with residents who are giving blood during different drives.
“You never know when you need blood; I need to make sure the young donors feel good because they are doing a good thing,” said Boatti, who began volunteering nearly five years ago after a nurse from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York referred her to the Blood Center for volunteer work.
However, giving back to the community by volunteering at blood drives around the borough has been something that Boatti wanted to do for much longer. Nearly 35 years ago, Boatti received a life-saving blood transfusion after she suffered a ruptured appendix.
“They said I was gone, but I made it. I fooled them all,” Boatti said as she talked about her recovery. “They took the bad blood out and put new blood in.”
Now, Boatti spends her days traveling by bus, subway and even by foot to six or eight blood drives per month. She is a regular at Citibank and Met Life drives in Long Island City, where blood donors ask for her by name.
“It means a great deal to us that Mary volunteers because it frees up the staff to do other things while she tends to them,” said Natalie Barnofsky, Supervisor of the Donor Recruitment and Volunteer Department for New York Blood Center.
During the blood drives, Boatti is a fixture at the canteen where donors come after the finish giving blood to have some food and drink. While they are there, Boatti engages them in a friendly conversation that helps pass the time while they are waiting.
While the New York Blood Center is thrilled to have a volunteer like Boatti, the 91-year-old said the experience is just as rewarding for her.
“I am grateful beyond words. Volunteering is the least I can do, to give back,” Boatti said. “It’s a good cause. The people are very nice to me. I’m getting as much out of volunteering as I give. They saved my life. People don’t realize how rewarding this is.”
New York Blood Center serves New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and New Jersey. For more information about volunteering at a blood drive, contact Barnofsky at 516-478-5006.
