The Key Club will host the first blood drive of the year on Aug. 30. The Key Club hosts four blood drives annually through Coffee Memorial Blood Center to supply blood to those in need.
“We host the Back to School [Blood Drive], which is the one that’s coming up on August 30,” Key Club sponsor Lance Culbert said. “We’ll do the Vein Drain, which is around Halloween time. We’ll do a winter blood drive in January and then a spring blood drive in late March.”
Our school as a whole usually donates an average of 50 pints of blood at each blood drive hosted on campus. Doing this four times a year creates a significant amount of blood available for those in need from our area.
“One of the things most people don’t realize is that student blood drives account for about a quarter of the overall blood supply in our area,” Culbert said. “If high schools don’t do a good job of getting people to donate, then it could mean shortages at local facilities, like Northwest and BSA.”
In order to donate, you must be at least 16, have a parent’s approval and weigh at least 125 pounds. If you are 17 or older you still must fill out a form but it does not require parental approval. Those interested in donating can sign up with Culbert in room 1306 by setting up an appointment time and, if needed, getting a form signed.
