Julia Gronert

Effervescent NHS President, senior Jonin Morgan, serves in blood drop costume. Show up to Friday’s blood drive to find out who was inside the costume visiting classrooms last week…

Mounds View High School’s Red Cross club is hosting a school blood drive on Oct. 25, periods one through five in the MAC. The club is connected to the American Red Cross, a nonprofit organization that collects blood and financial donations for people in need. For example, they are currently trying to support people affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene.

On average, a person needs blood every two seconds, and every pint of blood donated can save up to three lives, according to the Blood Bank of Alaska. People will always need blood for reasons such as surgery, cancer, childbirth and accidents. “Donating blood is something that was nerve-wracking my first time, just because I don’t like needles. But after doing it once, it was really easy to do. It’s really straightforward,” said Matthew Scardigli, administrative assistant and advisor for the Mounds View Red Cross club.

The Mounds View Red Cross club has two blood drives per year, one in the fall, and one in the spring. Last year, around 98 people donated blood, and because one pint has the ability to save three people, those 98 pints saved up to 294 lives. This year, the club hopes to surpass 100 pints. “I think this year, we really just want to get more people, even if it’s just signed up. And even if they get declined from donating blood, that’s OK. Just getting more people signed up is really the goal. Just spreading the word,” said senior Jonin Morgan, co-president of the Mounds View Red Cross club.

Before someone goes to donate, they must meet certain criteria or they may be denied. Students under the age of 16 cannot donate blood, those who are 16 must have parental consent, and those over the age of 16 can consent themselves. A major reason a student is denied is because their blood iron levels are too low, or that their heart rate is too high. Red Cross club members also remind potential donors to check the height and weight requirements. In addition, students must register, or, if they’re 16 years old, get a parent permission slip to the school’s front office at least a day prior to the blood drive.

The Red Cross club is advertising this blood drive in various  ways to spread awareness. They created posters to put around the school, posted on social media and used the Mounds View Morning Herd. They also work with the National Honor Society so members could either volunteer or donate for volunteer hours. 

The members try their best to make donors feel comfortable, especially if it is their first time donating blood. While many donors are afraid of needles, after the first time, most people feel more at ease. If needed, those helping at the blood drive will try their best to calm people down by doing things like reading a book out loud. “If this is their first time donating, we want to set them up so they’re able to feel comfortable donating again like that for the rest of their lives, or just donating again,” said senior Daria Kianian, co-president of the Mounds View Red Cross club.

Even though some people cannot donate themselves, they can still spread the word. “Even if you feel uncomfortable donating blood, just reaching out to friends and people around you to donate blood is still super important, and that’s something that you can do to help the national blood crisis,” said Kianian.