Marysville Rotary holds blood drive

Marysville Rotary held a blood drive with the American Red Cross to increase the blood supply during a critical time for many hospitals.

The local service club held their blood drive on June 4.

Rick McCarthy, president of the Marysville Rotary, said that blood is still needed at many hospitals.

"There is a definite need for blood right now," said McCarthy. He was contacted by the American Red Cross about the current donations coming in.

"So there's a definite shortage and a need right now due to COVID-19," he said.

The blood drive went well, according to McCarthy.

"We filled up all 40 spots in record timing," he said, adding that it only took three days to get all the spots signed up for.

"It's going good. Everybody seems real happy. A lot of our Rotary leaders are out here to donate," he said.

Donated blood helps save lives at hospitals.

"It's just a re-occurring need, a consumable," said McCarthy.

"We're all human and it's something we need to do, to give back and donate and help a fellow human being out because one day we're going to be on the other side of that fence needing blood that someone else generously gave," he said.

The local Rotary Club wanted to host the blood drive to help with those needs.

"We're spreading awareness and helping out the American Red Cross," said McCarthy.

It had also been a while since the local Rotary had taken on a service project and they wanted to continue to do what they could for the community.

"We wanted to do this to keep Rotary strong in the community and give back and to pull the community back together," he said.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has kept the Club from meeting in person the Rotary has continued to get together online.

"We're doing lots of Zoom meetings and this is kind of our first get-together and seeing each other again," said McCarthy. "So it feels like we're getting things back to a normal again."

The event was held at Marysville Toyota.

"Jim Colon has generously offered up his dealership for us to hold this here as a safe, clean place to hold this at," said McCarthy.

He also wanted to show appreciation toward local Rotary Clubs around the Snohomish County region who helped spread the word and brought members in to donate.

"Thank you Rotary for stepping up," he said.