Red Cross Club hosts annual blood drive after Thanksgiving Break

Glenn+Reddy+%2815%29+waits+for+his+blood+to+be+drawn+by+an+American+Red+Cross+volunteer.+The+Red+Cross+club+partnered+with+the+Red+Cross+to+host+the+blood+drive+last+year.

Kathy Duan

Glenn Reddy (’15) waits for his blood to be drawn by an American Red Cross volunteer. The Red Cross club partnered with the Red Cross to host the blood drive last year.

by Vijay Bharadwaj, Wingspan Copy Editor

The upper school Red Cross Club is holding its annual blood drive on Dec. 2 following Thanksgiving Break to donate to those in need of transfusions.

The club will hold a Kits for Kids event tomorrow in partnership with DECA to provide children with basic hygiene supplies, disaster preparedness supplies and small toys that they might not otherwise have access to. Additionally, a gift wrapping event will take place during the holidays to raise money for the Red Cross. In the future, they plan to hold a fundraiser the Measles and Rubella Initiative.

“Our goal this year is 46 people,” Red Cross Club activities coordinator Natalie Simonian (12) said. “So far we have 25 sign-ups, meaning we’re more than halfway through, but we’ve still got quite a ways to go, so everyone 16 and older should seriously consider donating.”

About 20 percent of the blood that the Red Cross receives is from colleges and high schools. Every blood donation can save up to three lives for each type of blood cell it has to offer.

The blood that the upper school Red Cross Club receives will be sent directly to the Red Cross. All blood from the blood drive will go to the Red Cross in the bay area.

“The first time I donated was last year to Harker Red Cross, and I’ve always wanted to donate,” Shannon Hong (12) said. “After last year’s blood drive, I have gone on my own volition to the Red Cross center in San Jose over the summer.”

Mishu Nitelescu (10) also plans to donate to the blood drive.

“I think it’s a good idea because it’s going to help a lot of people,” he said. “Its really great that we as a community are coming together to do this.”

Depending on the administration’s approval, the Red Cross Club may hold more than one blood drive this year.