CHRIS FOX PHOTO
The donors at the recent Village of Lombard Spring Blood Drive included Lombard resident Darlene Merchant, who gave blood one day before her 101st birthday. Merchant is pictured during her donation at the First Church of Lombard, 220 S. Main Street. Merchant said she first donated blood when she was about 16 years old. “There was a boy down the block, and he needed blood, and I volunteered,” said Merchant, who was born in Chicago on April 15, 1920. “That was the start of it. Different people needed blood from time to time, and I was always around.” Merchant said being a blood donor has given her a lot of satisfaction. “It has been important to me,” she said. “It’s a reward anytime you can help.” A mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Merchant said she drove until she was 98 years old. “If I could only drive, it would be fine,” she commented on reaching her 101st birthday. “There aren’t many people that have birthdays like me. I can’t believe it myself.” Merchant said she doesn’t really have a secret for living a long life. “I eat well; I don’t eat a lot of meat,” she said. “I live on salads. I love salads, so maybe that helps a little bit.” The drive collected 87 units of blood—65 units from the First Church of Lombard and 22 units from the Yorktown Center.
