PITTSTON — Tapping isn’t uncommon at Susquehanna Brewing Company. The Pittston establishment frequently taps kegs for its serving area, but last weekend the brewery tapped humans — for their blood.
An estimated 96 people visited the brewery Sept. 30 to donate blood during Paint Pittston Pink’s Give a Pint, Get A Pint blood drive. While people donated in the brewery area, raffles were held in the brewing company’s taproom with bands playing and food being served outside.
The event was organized in memory of former Pittston City Police Chief Gregory Policare, who passed away Aug. 1 after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. Julie Murphy, Policare’s sister-in-law, said Paint Pittston Pink contacted her family about a possible collaboration. That conversation led to Sept. 30’s blood drive.
“Greg was diagnosed in May and, in the very early stages of his illness, he received a lot of blood and blood products from strangers,” Murphy said. “That was something that was important for us as a family to be able to give back to the community because other people had done the same thing for him.”
A Laflin resident, Murphy said donated blood will be used to help people in Northeastern Pennsylvania, while visitors who signed up for bone marrow donation at the event will be added to a nationwide pool and contacted at a later date.
After donating, participants were given a commemorative pint glass featuring artwork inspired by Susquehanna Brewing Company and Paint Pittston Pink. Susquehanna Brewing Company Community Relations Coordinator Mallory Nobile Strubeck said the brewery was proud to host the event and would do so again next year.
“They’re doing great things for a great cause, so we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
Murphy’s sister, Pittston resident Susan Smith, was also thrilled to participate in the event. While giving blood, Smith discussed baking cupcakes for the event.
“I baked all day yesterday and a little bit the night before,” Smith said. “I did a cupcake variety pack.”
Smith said she thought giving blood was a good way to give back in memory of Policare, and was happy to help patients needing transfusions, no matter the procedure. Paint Pittston Pink co-founder Barbara Sciandra said the organization helped coordinate Give a Pint, Get a Pint because its goal is to help cancer patients, no matter the type.
“People hear the name Paint Pittston Pink and they think that we’re just an organization for breast cancer, which we understand, but we support a cure for all cancers through research and clinical trials,” Sciandra said. “We thought that this was a nice tie-in for people to understand how important it is to join the bone marrow registration and to give blood. All of this is needed for people that are undergoing different types of treatment, and they use blood for research and it’s really important.”
Avoca resident Lee Rodeghiero echoed Sciandra’s sentiments. The military veteran of 28 years was at the brewing company to sample beers and said he would donate if he could. He often donates blood and platelets but could not donate on Sept. 30 due to medication. He said he’s motivated to donate because of what he’s lived through: local flooding in 1972 caused by Hurricane Agnes, the 1977 flooding in Johnstown and his aforementioned years of service in the armed forces.
“It can be used in so many different ways,” Rodeghiero said of blood donations. “There’s nothing to it; it takes 30 to 45 minutes to donate.”
Murphy said one pint of blood could help two to three different patients, with the estimated 96 donors possibly helping 288 people.
