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In memory of their son, Michael, Congregation Neve Shalom members Dorothy and Dr. Edward Thompson hosted the shul's annual blood drive for the sixth year in a row on March 8.

The blood drive, which is administered by the New Jersey Blood Services and took place at the synagogue, collected 40 units of blood and seven units of platelets.

On Feb. 19, 2003, Michael suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 37. Then, in December 2003, the Thompsons decided to continue Michael's tradition of giving blood and began to sponsor the blood drives.

Michael began giving a blood as a senior at Wardlaw Hartridge, now located in Edison, and for the next 20 years he gave blood and platelets, the Thompsons said.

"I think he's looking down on us and is very pleased that we are honoring his memory," Edward said.

The shul had always held blood drives, but it wasn't until Thompson's death that they were sponsored by anyone. Each blood drive costs about $500 to $600, and everyone who donates blood receives a T-shirt and coffee, juice, and food.

"I think he got started just because Wardlaw had this drive," Dorothy said.

They said Michael was a devoted father to his daughter MollyJo; he was intelligent, wrote music, and played guitar as well. He was an English teacher at Weequahic High School in Newark and worked in sales.

"He was a very caring, compassionate person," Edward said.

The Thompsons, who have been members at Neve Shalom for 35 years, said the blood drive is held primarily around the Jewish holidays in September, December, March, and June. They receive good turnouts because people are around to celebrate the holidays, they said.

Not everyone at the shul remembers Michael, but they do know the Thompsons. Some people come because they are friends with the Thompsons, while others come because they know how active the Thompsons are the shul they are.

However, people like Neve Shalom Rabbi Gerald Zelizer and some of the older congregants remember Michael because he attended Hebrew School at Neve Shalom and was bar mitzvahed there.

"Before the blood drive we get an aliyah, and for his yarhtzeit we always get an aliyah," Dorothy said. "Volunteerism is the rent you pay to be here and its also part of giving back."

Dorothy said although they left the shul for a short time when they lived in Bayonne, Neve Shalom was always home for them. When they came back, they felt as if they're family was waiting for them.

"It's nice; your temple becomes your extended family," Dorothy said. "The words of the rabbi were 'you can't bring him back, but you can perpetuate his memory.' The rabbi even said 'you mean something to these people'."

Bruce Levin, who has been the blood drive chairman for the past seven years, said he feels very strongly about the giving and collecting of blood. Ultimately, it is the community's responsibility to come together and give blood, because is always needed, he said.

"The larger issue is our responsibility as Jews to help out," Levin said. "It saves lives. It's a very important moral responsibility to contribute to filling the need."

Since the Thompsons began sponsoring the drive, attendance each year has increased, Levin said. Many people take part in the blood drive because it commemorates one of their own.

"It was a fitting tribute to [Michael's] memory," Levin said. "They wanted to do something to honor him."

The Thompsons are caring, compassionate, dedicated people who care a great deal about the shul and the blood drive, Levin said. Moreover, their financial contributions to the blood drive have made a big difference as well.

Dorothy and Edward said they hope to continue to share Michael's memory through the four blood drives each year for as long as they can. They hope their son would take over sponsoring the blood drives in the future.

"We're going to do it as long as we can," Dorothy said. "I would hope that our son would continue it. I would hope that he would take over for us the financial end of it."