An Ellington woman who was in Las Vegas for a convention rushed to help after she learned the news of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival Sunday night.
“I'm standing in line, hopefully donating blood to save a life,” Christina Morin told NBC Connecticut Monday.
The shooting continues to send shockwaves through Las Vegas – but on the other side – an incredible show of support for the victims. Pictures show thousands of people headed straight for blood donation centers. Morin was among them and spoke to NBC Connecticut over the phone Monday.
“It's kind of the least I can do is to just be here and stand with everybody else and donate blood,” she said.
Morin arrived in Las Vegas Sunday. When she learned the news she ran into the lobby of her hotel and met three people who’d been at the country music concert. She said she gave them her phone charger so they could reach loved ones.
“They were shaking, just shaking. One girl had cuts all over her legs. They were telling me bodyguards were just throwing people over fences to get them out of the way,” Morin said.
The next morning, she stood in line with a thousand other people to donate blood, and while they were there, businesses came out to show their support.
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“The community is unbelievable. Walmart has been here, Subway, Little Caesars,” Morin said.”Everybody is handing out food, water, sunscreen. I just got an umbrella.”
Kindness and generosity poured out of a moment that’s shaken the nation.
“I just don't understand it. I don't know how I'm going to explain something like this to my little girls that are back home,” she said.
Morin said people at her location waited nearly 12 hours to donate blood. After waiting six hours she said people in line were told to go home. The center was booked with donation appointments for the next 10 days. Morin plans to donate anyway when she returns to Connecticut.
