108th Wing Airman Gives the Gift of Life

TRENTON, N.J. -- Approximately 200 Airmen and Soldiers from the New Jersey National Guard recently attended a worthy event at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, N.J.
 
Facing a blood shortage in New Jersey, the New Jersey Workplace Blood Donor Coalition, the New Jersey Department of Health and the 2014 NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee held a blood drive Jan. 14, at the Center. The drive was the final event of the eight-month Super Community Blood Drive, whose goal is to help alleviate the blood shortage in the state.
 
"January is National Blood Donor Month and we face a critical blood shortage because of the extreme cold temperatures earlier this month, flu activity and the fact that blood supply is always low after the holidays," said Health commissioner, Mary O'Dowd.
 
Consequently, doing their part were several members of the New Jersey Air National Guard, who had several members from their two wings: the 108th Wing out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and the 177th Fighter Wing out of Atlantic City.
 
Staff Sgt. David Savino, a finance management journeyman, had no qualms about giving some of his blood.
 
"I volunteered to donate blood cause (sic) I have a good source of blood and it was the right thing to do," said the Cherry Hill resident.
 
In attendance at the event were also the Adjutant General of New Jersey, Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff, and the Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey, Kim Guadagno.
 
Cunniff said of his troops, "more than 2,300 troops were activated during Super Storm Sandy for relief efforts. Their contribution to this blood drive is just one additional way they work to support the residents of the state."
 
Blood donors provided a gift of life during this event and each one had a chance to win tickets to Super Bowl XLVIII at Metlife Stadium on Feb. 2, but for Savino it was more than that.
 
"I do it because other people might need my blood and it could save their life," said Savino.