PRESQUE-ISLE, Maine — The Boys & Girls Club of Presque-Isle sponsored a Red Cross blood drive on Thursday at the Aroostook Band of Micmacs Tribal Administration Building.
Blood donors quickly filled the building’s parking lot, resulting in a few guests parking their vehicles on the side of the road. Inside, a man briefly burned sage while a few young members of the Boys & Girls Club of Presque Isle sold baked goods. Donors patiently sat outside a room lined with Red Cross medical equipment.
Fenton Jones and David Gardner, two individuals primarily responsible for orchestrating this event, were present in the donation room.
“We started doing blood drives with the Red Cross last year,” said Jones of the Boys & Girls Club of Presque Isle. “We hold blood drives about once a month.”
“I’m a volunteer from Virginia and a part of Americorps Vista,” said David Gardner as Red Cross staff drew his blood. “A big part of our goal is to help out with the community and to build the capacity of the Boys & Girls Club.”
“We also serve communities outside of Presque Isle,” added Jones. “Some of these towns include Mapleton, Easton and Caribou. We encourage all youth in the community to consider joining, and openly welcome Natives and non-Natives alike to the organization.”
Moinaptok Paul, a librarian and tutor for the Micmac community who has worked with the Presque Isle Boys & Girls Club for a year, also gave blood.
“This is my third or fourth time donating,” said Paul. “I plan on donating many more times in the future. I’m more than happy to give back any time I can.”
Paul recently received his lifeguard certification, and plans on working for the Red Cross in the future.
“The Red Cross are very helpful and knowledgeable,” adds Paul. “I do what I can, when I can, and they do the same for everyone else.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Presque-Isle was founded in 1995. Their official mission is to “promote first and foremost the Micmac tradition and culture while providing an educational foundation and experience for all Native and non-Native youth ages 5-18.”
