On Wednesday, March 12, the Red Cross Club held the first blood drive to be hosted at Manual in many years. The auditorium was converted into a temporary blood donation center.
Atop the stage was an array of stretchers where students laid and prepared to donate blood. A few computers sat behind the stretchers, which were used to track the Red Cross’ blood inventory and donor profiles. Snacks and juice boxes were also provided for donors to help them recuperate after their donation.
“We are having a blood drive, saving some lives one donation at a time. In the Kentucky region we are responsible for 20,000 blood components per month, and we usually have 10-12 mobile blood drives everyday. We go to places and set up so people can donate at their work, school, and business,” Rebekah Byron said.
Byron is a Donor Recruitment Associate with the American Red Cross Louisville Chapter, and led the volunteers at the drive last week.
The drive’s success hinged on the efforts of Red Cross Club co-presidents Arjun Sharma (11, MST) and Addi Rice (11, HSU). The juniors revived the club after it had been inactive for years, recognizing the need for blood drives in and out of the school community.
“Something I wanted to emphasize from the start of the club was not having mandatory service hours and not having, like, dues or deadlines— I feel like a lot of clubs at Manual are just more about checking a box to be able to put on your college application,” Rice said. “It’s really helped build our club’s atmosphere.”
After the club was initially rejected by the school’s board, they appealed directly at an SBDM meeting. After successfully appealing, they got to work.
“The Red Cross Club here at Manual reached out to the Red Cross in order to host the drive,” Rice said.
This first blood drive is one of many planned for the future, following its success — over 80 students showed up to donate blood during the drive, and 50 units of blood were collected.
“There’s a lot of interest, there’s a lot of people, there’s a lot of blood,” Sharma said. “I’m really happy to see that it’s actually not like a flop, because these people came all the way from Central Kentucky and stuff, to come help out.”
The club, now 130 members strong, also trained nearly 100 students in CPR at the start of the semester.
Isabel Craycroft (12, VA) decided to donate after hearing about the drive during lunch.
“I’m terrified of needles, so I’m very anxious right now, but it’s a very, calming atmosphere, and everybody’s trying their best to make sure everybody feels good,” Craycroft said.
The blood drive also held other types of incentives. Students had the opportunity to gain service hours for their donations.
“I want to go into the medical field, so I thought, this would be a great way to experience the more volunteering service side of it, and plus, the service hours were pretty appealing,” Joseph Nidihry (11, MST) said. But for many, the greater reward was the long-term impact donating holds.
“To be aware that donating is a thing that we can do is very, very important, because it kind of leads us to a life where we’re donating blood more regularly,” Craycroft said.
Blood donation often reveals critical health insights for donors. Donors can learn their blood type and receive free health screenings for potential health issues like low hemoglobin or diabetes.
“By donating you can also find out your blood type. A lot of people don’t know their blood type until they do come to donate,” Byron said.
Club sponsor Mr. James Minor credited the students for the blood drives success, emphasizing the importance of the school community working to facilitate it.
“It’s cool to get out of the classroom and see students step up and show a willingness to help people that they don’t even know,” Minor said.
As blood donations decline nationwide, a serious threat is posed to people in need— there isn’t enough blood for everyone.
“The majority of donors are, for lack of a better phrase, aging out,” Minor said. “This is an opportunity to kind of shore up the next generation of blood donors so that this kind of life saving work can continue.”
The American Red Cross hosts mobile blood drives across Kentucky, but those interested in donating can visit the Red Cross’ physical locations at 291 N. Hubbards Lane, and 520 East Chestnut Street, their regional headquarters. For more information, please visit the Red Cross website.
