Legislator Kennedy Pumped for Third Annual Bloodfest

The Office of the Legislator invites all donors, from blood to food goods, to come down and contribute to Legislator John M. Kennedy Jr.’s third annual Bloodfest and Food Drive event Wednesday, August 8.

The event will be held at the North County Complex 10 a.m. to 4 p.m  on Veterans Memorial Highway. According to chief of staff, Ali Nazir, the day will include free food for donors given by Shoprite, King Kullen and Cosco, the live band, It Band, and other gifts.

“Along with free barbeque, all blood donors will receive two Mets game tickets,” said Nazir.

At , 124 pints of blood were donated, and approximately 100 donors helped out the cause. According to Nazir, more volunteers showed up, but not all were eligible to give blood.

In order to be a blood donor, you have to be between the ages of 16 and 75. If under 18 years old you must have a guardian with you and if 75 years old a doctors note is needed. There is also a weight requirement of at least 110 pounds.

If you don’t meet the criteria, blood isn’t the only thing being accepted, food donations are also. LI Cares will be at the Bloodfest collecting food donations for the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Nazir said Kennedy has high hopes that this year’s Bloodfest and Food Drive event will be even better than the last, bringing in more participants and donations.

“This year we want 200 pints of blood,” said Nazir, “I think we will be able to do it.”