Blood Drive

FCCLA recently hosted their annual Blood Drive sponsored by Red Cross. With a goal of obtaining 155 pints of blood they needed at least 180 students or teachers to participate.

Family Consumer Science teacher Mishaella Ryans expresses the need for students to realize how important donating blood is. With it being her first year participating herself she has noticed that several do not understand that there will always be a constant need for blood of all types.

“As you know hospitals are full of people every single day,” Ryans said. “You have programs constantly trying to arrange blood drives because the need is so great.”

Blood only lasts for a maximum of 42 days. Each person is allowed to donate blood every 8 weeks or 56 days. This blood is broken into the components of red blood cells, plasma and platelets which gives each person the opportunity to save three lives with just one pint of blood.

“Working with this school is always a good job,” Red Cross sponsor Teresa Becker said. “We tend to meet our goals and have several people who want to help out.”

Last year, FCCLA wanted to reach a goal of 180 pints of blood. Junior Naomi Dowling gave blood for a second year in a row admitting that last year was a little different than things are now. Having Type O blood she feels as if it is her job to do her part in giving back to her community.

“My blood is the universal donor,” Dowling said. “If i give blood more lives get saved and it is a good thing to do.”

The blood drive has been something FCCLA has pushed for since the tornado in 2011. When the damage in the community was done all of the blood that had been obtained only days before, was cycled back in the area.

“You see all of these movies about superheroes. In reality we don’t have people that can fly or that wear capes,” Ryans said. “When you tell me that by donating a pint of blood you can help save lives, it gives people an opportunity to be their own superhero.”