Students 16 and older with parent permission were encouraged to donate blood for the cause. Michael Allen ’25 eagerly supplied blood for the Red Cross, with the help of Welch’s fruit snacks.
“I feel a bit dizzy,” Allen ’25 said. “I’m not big on [biology], but I know we pump a lot of blood and it feels good knowing I can help.”
The event was planned by the National Honor Society, which puts together the event each school year. Katie Peck ’25 was working the front desk, checking in students and staff for the blood drive. The event garnered an excellent turnout this year.
“It has been too many to count,” Peck said. “I have been here for three hours now, and we have had 40 people give blood and there’s more [to come].”
When students give blood, it is shipped out far across the Midwest, and utilized by countless people in need. Jason Pennington was working the event at Grosse Pointe South, gathering blood from volunteers.
“If you download the app, and give it seven to ten days, it’ll let you know your blood type. Thereafter, it can also let you know where your blood goes,” Pennington said. “[Your blood] will go throughout the Midwest, but mostly Michigan and Ohio.”
Students like Allen stress the importance of giving blood as it is easy to recover from and vastly helpful to communities as a whole.
“I’m recovering alright,” Allen said. “It’s nothing crazy. I haven’t donated blood before, but I’ve had it taken.”
