The Empowerment Club and HOSA, Health Occupation Students of America, teamed up with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive in the White Gym April 28. The event, Bleed Purple, was the first blood drive event at DGN since 2019.
“The blood drive was requested by senior Kathy Toledano-Vasquez, because we used to have blood drives every year in health classes before COVID happened,” Empowerment Club Advisor Karen Spahr-Thomas said. “Kathy came to me and said, ‘Is there any way we could have a blood drive before I graduate? I want to call it Bleed Purple.’ So, we contacted HOSA to see if they were interested, and then moved from there.”
Junior Nicole Liu, president of HOSA, formed the club last year with advisors Kathy McDonald and Jeff Grant. The club primarily organizes community service projects that relate to the medical field.
According to the American Society of Hematology, the main job of plasma is to move blood cells throughout the body. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin which helps with the transport of oxygen, and platelets help heal the body through the blood-clotting process.
“Throughout the year we try to do community service projects, so we thought that a blood drive would be a good relation to the medical field while getting donations and participation from the school,” Liu said. “We also knew that Mrs. Spahr-Thomas and the Empowerment Club were interested, so we decided to partner up to get more exposure. I definitely want this to become a recurring event, but that depends on the number of donors we get.”
In order for students to donate, they must meet a minimum weight requirement of 110 pounds. For 16 and 17-year-olds, a parent’s permission is needed and a signed slip must be brought to the drive. Those 18 years and older are free to donate without parent permission.
The blood received over 50 donations from students, staff, and community members. Volunteers were given snacks such as pretzels and fruit chews, along with a graphic t-shirt after they finished donating.
“I want people to know that this event was done solely with the intent to help people. The goal was to make it as easy as possible for students to donate and I think we achieved it,” Toledano-Vasquez said. “Truly, the only way that we can have a successful blood drive is with you guys, spreading the word to your friends and teachers. One person who donates helps three people, so just imagine the impact we could have if we spread the word.”
The blood received over 50 donations from students, staff, and community members. Volunteers were given snacks such as pretzels and fruit chews, along with a graphic t-shirt after they finished donating.
“I encourage everyone to donate or volunteer. Tell everyone about it, because I think it’s always a good idea to give blood, especially to help people with a rare blood type,” Liu said.
