● National Blood Donor Month
Vinton Smith takes a selfie after donating platelets in Johnson City, N. Y.
One man. Every state. Countless lives saved.
GREENVILLE NATIVE’ S MISSION TO DONATE BLOOD SPANS THE NATION Story by Gwen Albers • Photos contributed
Vinton Smith grew up watching his parents, Tom and Carol Smith, give back to their rural Greenville, Pennsylvania, comunity. In a most unexpected fashion, Vinton found his own way to give back – giving blood in all 50 states. He reached the milestone last June after Alaskan Airlines offered an allexpense paid family trip to Hawaii for his final state. Alaskan Airlines
24 VALLEY VOICES also made a $ 10,000 donation to Blood Bank of Alaska.
“ When you donate blood, you save lives,” the 55-year-old said.“ I know that’ s a very big thing that somebody does. It’ s a lot more than saving someone’ s life. That’ s a moment in time that their life will continue. Not just lives, but the lives of friends and family.”
Raised in Salem Township on a sixth-generation dairy farm, Vinton followed his parents into community service. The late Tom Smith served on the Commodore Perry School Board for 15 years and the Stevenson Cemetery Board of Directors for 33 years. His wife, Carol, for 47 years volunteered with the Children’ s Aid Society in Mercer, a non-profit that provides adoption and foster care services. That’ s just the tip of the iceberg.
They also were regular blood