Blood Drive in Honor of Wounded Officer Draws Over 200

More than 200 donors descended on the  headquarters Tuesday for a blood drive in honor of wounded Officer Rachel Morgan. 

"The outreach has been phenomenal," said PVAC President Sandi Gunderson, who, along with the PVAC, helped organize the drive.

Police officers, firefighters and other first responders poured in from near and far to give blood, and to show their support for Morgan, who was shot several times Feb. 6 after a traffic stop. Each donor, after giving blood, signed a card that the PVAC will deliver to Morgan. By the end of the drive, the card, the size of a poster, was covered in signatures and messages to Morgan.

"I'm glad to see so many of the men in blue here doing what they need to do," Bergen County Sheriff Michael Saudino said.

Saudino wasn't the only prominent official there; Freeholder John Driscoll, Assemblywoman Connie Wagner, Mayor Richard LaBarbiera and Councilman Alan Brundage were among the more than 200 to show their support. Gunderson said Applebee's, Fuddruckers and the Fireplace donated food.

There was a line to donate by 11 a.m., for a drive that was scheduled to start at 12 p.m. The original plan was for  to hold the drive in the PVAC building, but the droves of donors led Community Blood Services to call in its Blood Mobile, and its six extra beds.

And while the drive's focus was Morgan, the bump in donations certainly didn't hurt the blood supply, especially after the harsh winter kept many donors home over the past few weeks. MaryAnn Siniscalchi, a Paramus resident and volunteer manager for Community Blood Services, said she hoped the first-time members would continue to donate.

"I encourage them to come back and do it again," she said.

Gunderson, who has been on emergency calls with Morgan, during which the two would bond over their shared love of dogs, said Morgan would appreciate the outpouring of support.

"Rachel, when she finds out how much was done and how many people are going to benefit by us doing this in her honor—I'm sure it's going to push her just one more step on her road to recovery," she said.

Morgan's recovery reached crucial step over the past few days—she is posting on Facebook. She wrote a post on the "Thoughts and Prayers for Rachel Morgan" page in response to the drive:

"Hey everyone! ty again for all of your support ... just an update.. still got a long road ahead but I'm pretty much out of the woods and now its recovery and rehab. a special I love you to u Paramus ambulance awesome jobs guys I saw You on the news!!!! you guys are the greatest! !! oh and I will see u soon..."