Teen Coordinates Blood Drive

This is the second summer Michelle Blumstein has organized a blood drive in the Commack Mayfair shopping center by partnering with Music Saves Lives. 

The drive took place on Friday, with 30 donors participating in the Music Saves Lives-sponsored drive. By volunteering for Music Saves Lives, Blumstein receives a VIP bracelet for the Van's Warped Tour, a concert she attends annually. 

Blumstein's father, Larry, owns Ciao Baby in the Mayfair shopping center and has helped her organize these drives. 

Last year's Commack drive had 29 donors, a number Michelle Blumstein beat by donating herself this year.

"My goal is more than 29 donors. That was last year's number. Since you have to be 16 to donate, some of my friends came down with their parents and asked their parents to donate so they could get the Music Saves Lives pass to Warp Tour," Blumstein said.

Music Saves Lives works with students in high school and college "to perform life saving actions, whether it is donating blood on a regular basis, or signing up for the National Bone Marrow Registry," said a representative of Team MSL.

"Donors get a voucher – good for anyone, even if your parent donates, you can use the voucher. The voucher, along with a separately purchased ticket to Warped Tour, will get you into a wrist band for the 'meet and greets' with some of the bands, – announced right before the event – water, a tent to hang out in and the first 150 people at Warped Tour with these vouchers get a VIP wrist band, similar to the blood drive volunteers, that allows them to get back to the tour buses and meet the bands," Blumstein said.

Blumstein got involved with Music Saves Lives through a friend at school.

"He knew I enjoy charity work, and that I go to Warp Tour, so he told me about this. It makes me feel good to do this. My dad and I always did charity work together, it's just a part of my life," Blumstein said.

"My dad helped me spread the word. He knows a lot of people in the area and he also helped me put posters around Commack. Illicia Figueras, of the Hauppauge Industrial Association, helped me spread the word as well," Blumstein said.

Blumstein donated – for the first time – herself, to beat last year's goal.

"We had 29 donors at the end of the day, I couldn't leave it that way so I donated for the first time to bring the number up to 30," she said.

Blumstein will attend Vans Warped Tour – with her VIP pass – in July.

Students can volunteer in many ways – they can email ihelp@musicsaveslives.com to get more information, or go on the website to download promotion cards or become a blood drive coordinator.

For more information visit their website.