Ramapo’s Civic & Community Engagement Center (CCEC) collected food and clothing donations on Monday, marking the third annual Donation Day. Blood donations were accepted through the American Red Cross in the Alumni Lounges.
Donation Day began thanks to the efforts of nursing student Avery Cangro during her time as a member of the Student Government Association. Cangro now works at CCEC.
“Within my freshman year, I wanted to create a day of giving back in all aspects of the community. I was very active and passionate about blood drives in high school and wanted to continue it at a higher level of education,” she stated in an email to The Ramapo News. “I am very happy this event is becoming a tradition. I am very thankful for my job at the Civic and Community Engagement Center for allowing me to bring my ideas to life while having an immense amount of support from the Center of Student Involvement, pro staff, co-workers, and colleagues.”
The event also encouraged donations of food and clothing, which went to the We Care Program to support students who are facing food or housing insecurity, or are lacking other crucial resources.
Three members of Alpha Sigma Phi volunteered to assist in running the event, including senior Kyle Bartus, who helped check-in donors. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to come out and support in whatever way we could,” he said. His own history as a blood donor inspired him to participate.
Attendees embodied a similar spirit of giving and gratitude. Interlibrary loan, reference & instruction librarian Katie Cohen said her decision to donate blood was inspired by her sister, who gives regularly. “It’s really important to help those who have been injured or need blood. I’m a mom. I know if my kids needed blood or something I would want someone to help them, so I try to pay it forward,” she said.
According to American Red Cross Team Supervisor Gaby Cucu, 52 people scheduled in advance to donate blood that day. Out of that total, Cucu’s team anticipated collecting at least 40 productive batches.
“Giving blood is crucial because without blood on the shelf, in a trauma case or a cancer patient that needs it, there is no medication for it,” Cucu said.
The event also encouraged donations of food and clothing, which went to the We Care Program to support students who are facing food or housing insecurity, or are lacking other crucial resources. Food and clothing donations for the program are accepted year-round.
“The We Care Program does many things to give back to the Ramapo Community such as our food pantry, professional clothing closet, laptop upcycling program, and student relief fund which is accessible to all students,” Cangro stated.
Regardless of what or how much they gave, all donors were offered food ordered from CARS Eatery for the event as a show of thanks for their generosity.
“The main importance of this event for me is to positively change a person’s perspective, even if it is one person… We should be giving back to our community in one way or another, and I believe this event gives back in multiple ways,” Cangro stated.
dbongiov@ramapo.edu
Featured photo by Danielle Bongiovanni
