The Blood Drive is an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and the community to give back to others by donating blood. The Blood Drive is sponsored by The Community Blood Center out of Kansas City, MO. The blood drive took place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 16 and Oct. 17 at the Elliott Union Ballrooms. The all day event hoped to walk away with about 280 pints of blood. Lisa Nelson, Account manager for The Community Blood Center, said the blood drive is an important event.
Olivia Shelton, a donor at the drive believes people perceive blood donations as something they see as important, but just don’t do often enough.
“There was a little girl that I babysat and when she was born she had to have open heart surgery” Shelton said. “She had a rare blood type and the hospital performing the surgery was in a shortage of it. Luckily before the surgery a donor walked in and asked if he could give blood and his donation went on to save that young girl’s life. I want to help people that way too.”
Nelson believes donating blood is a popular way for college students to give back.
“Our blood drive takes place on campus because while we have regular donors who are committed to donating whenever there is a blood drive, they are mostly older citizens who often develop health reasons. as to why they can’t donate,” Nelson said. “For this reason, our college blood drive is an important event because it encourages healthy young people to donate for a healthy cause.”
According to the American Red Cross donors must be 18 years or older, must weigh more than 110 pounds and be in good health. Shamarrae Hardrick, a volunteer at the refreshments table, made sure that those who donate are in good health. He says he is always happy to see people donate for a good cause.
“We don’t really get a lot of blood donors in our country so this is a good way for people to help out and save lives,” Hardrick said. “I hope there will be more community engagement with the blood drive and more lives saved with donations that are gathered from it.’
