Student Council and the Rock Bridge Reaches Out (RBRO) American Red Cross core will host a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in the auxiliary gym. The blood drive organizers encourage students to make an appointment, which must be during their Alternating Unassigned Time (AUT), beforehand; however, they are permitted to show up after 8:00 a.m. to register and donate early. Student Council president senior Dalton Nunamaker plans on donating blood and encourages others to do the same.
“Obviously giving to others, especially those in dire need, is always a wonderful thing to participate in and can really bring a community together,” Nunamaker said. “Especially at these times of catastrophe with the hurricanes and other deadly occurrences, the Red Cross needs support now more than ever.”
Like Nunamaker, junior Bennett Lawson hopes his peers show up to contribute even though he personally won’t be donating.
“I encourage others to come out and donate to help people in need. It is especially important now because of all the natural disasters this year,” Lawson said. “I have an extreme fear of needles staying in me longer that what is needed for a shot, so giving blood and IVs are some things that I’m not fond of.”
Students below age 17 need parent permission to give blood and can find parental consent forms in the Activities Office. In addition to the philanthropic benefit of participating in the event, the Red Cross is offering RBHS scholarship money to a student of Student Council’s choice depending on the amount of blood donated. If the school reaches its goal of 400 units of blood, that student can receive up to $3,000.
“I have organized my Red Cross members and Student Council leaders to help set up the event and contact Red Cross officials to coordinate the blood drive,” Nunamaker said. “Between Rock Bridge students and faculty and other community members, we believe we can top our previous totals of 250-300 units and go for 400 this year.”