WASHINGTON 鈥斅燭here were big goals centered on a blood drive being held for someone with a big heart.
A blood drive being held Saturday at Bates Middle School in Annapolis already had 170 people signed up to give, with more walk-ins expected 鈥� an enormous turnout compared to the far smaller crowds that these events typically draw.
It鈥檚 reflective of the spirit of Wendi Winters, a Capital Gazette reporter killed in the newsroom shooting聽earlier this year, and someone who spent so much time helping the Red Cross with previous blood drives.
鈥淲endi Winters was a wonderful volunteer for the American Red Cross,鈥� said Scott Salemme, a regional CEO with the American Red Cross. 鈥淭here鈥檚 always a need for blood in our community.鈥�
Salemme says Saturday’s event became even more important because so many other blood drives in the mid-Atlantic region were canceled because of the hurricane in the Carolinas.聽
鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe how large it is. It鈥檚 so exciting to see all these people here,鈥� said Summer Leigh Geimer, Winter鈥檚 daughter. 鈥淚t means so much and I鈥檓 sure Mom would have been thrilled if she could have had a turnout like this while she was doing it herself. I think the fact that she was able to inspire this says a lot.鈥�
Geimer said a “good day” at the blood drives her mother used to work would only see about 40 donors. Sometimes Winters herself would be one of those donors.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be different,鈥� admitted Geimer. 鈥淭he last time I gave blood I had Mom hovering around me, joking with me, so it鈥檒l certainly be different.鈥�
Among the first people in line to donate this morning were Jenna and Karen Gipple of Arnold, Maryland, a mother and daughter who knew Winters.
鈥淛enna went to school, was in scouts with her daughter鈥� said Karen.
This was Jenna鈥檚 first time donating blood.
鈥淚 never really thought about it before. I thought it was a good time to do it,鈥� she said. “I feel like [Winters] was always giving back to the community, so I feel like people [here are] doing the same thing in her honor I guess.”
