Blood drives seek more volunteers
GC&SU students had the opportunity to donate blood on Feb. 8 at the biggest blood drive in Baldwin County.
The John Sallstrom Blood Drive took place from 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the Magnolia Ballroom. The donation process took approximately one hour to complete from signing in to refreshments.
Kendall Stiles, director of The GIVE Center, directed the event. The blood drive recognizes Sallstrom for his past donations and success with the blood drive over the years. Sallstrom is no longer able to give blood after being diagnosed with leukemia five years ago. GC&SU now puts the blood drive on in his honor.
Student organizer for the blood drive Laura Timmons said volunteers were low in supply. An average of about 10 students gave blood. These students do not receive Deans Cup points or volunteer hours. She hopes next time there is a blood drive more people will be willing to volunteer.
Students had various reasons for giving blood.
“(I gave blood) to save lives,” said Brad Linenger, sophomore
business marketing major.
Jeff Jenkins, another donator, had a little bit more to say.
“Giving blood is an effortless way of helping people that can make a difference in someone’s life,” Jenkins said.
Some students said they would have given blood if it didn’t take so long. The lines were long and giving blood took approximately about an hour.
“I wasn’t able to give blood because of the wait, but I did sit with my friend and hold her hand while she did,” said Kelly Eley, sophomore nursing major.
Other students stayed despite the long wait.
“The lines were really long but I stuck it out,” said Linenger. “We got to watch ‘Friends,’ so it was worth it. Plus it is for a really good cause.”
Linenger also said that sitting in the chair giving blood was a long process. He had four pints of blood taken. Blood was taken once and then was put through a machine so that red blood cells were taken and the plasma was put back into him. Blood was taken again using the same process.
All the time and energy put into the blood drive was well worth it.
Stiles said that they reached above their goal of 96 pints of blood. The final number was 100 pints.
April 12 is the next blood drive. To sign up ahead of time go to http://info.gcsu.edu/blooddrive.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Feb 17 2006. Filed under News.
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