DONORS

'It's one thing I could do'

By Gloria Negri, Globe Staff and, Thanassis Cambanis Globe Correspondent, 9/12/2001

As word of the terrorist attack spread across America, lines wrapped around Red Cross buildings with people wanting to help by donating blood. (AP Photo)

RAMINGHAM - World War II veteran Bill Fothergill Jr. knew exactly what he should do when he heard news of the catastrophic terrorist attack on New York's World Trade Center: drive to the nearest hospital and give blood.

He was joined by hundreds of Greater Boston residents shaken by news of the attacks and searching for some way to help.

''It's one little thing I could do,'' Fothergill said while waiting in Framingham's MetroWest Medical Center. ''I'm too old to do anything else.''

More than 100 people gave blood in Framingham, and another 100 at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. ''We've had people lining the halls to give blood,'' UMass spokesman Alison Duffy said.

The American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay issued an urgent appeal for donations yesterday, but asked would-be donors to hold off until tomorrow because centers were overwhelmed.

Red Cross spokeswoman Renita Hosler, en route by car to New York City yesterday to coordinate Red Cross media relations there, said the ''foremost thing'' people in Boston could do to help would be to donate blood.

''If you are over 17, weigh over 110 pounds, are healthy and do not have a cold, you can make a blood donation,'' Hosler said.

The American Red Cross was setting up special donation points around the state and asking prospective donors to call 1-800-448-3543 to find the nearest site. Only the Red Cross can ship blood across state lines.

Blood donor centers are extending their hours to 8 p.m. and plan to keep their expanded donor facilities open until the end of the week.

Beth Israel Hospital in Boston will keep its blood donor facilities open 24 hours a day for the foreseeable future.

This story ran on page A2 of the Boston Globe on 9/12/2001.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company.