By: Jewel Dickerman
On Thursday, February 29, Wallenpaupack Area High School had some visitors from the American Red Cross. The Future Health Professionals (HOSA) hosted a blood drive in the aux gym where students greater than the age of sixteen, with parental consent, could donate blood. Before the blood drive, students were given the chance to sign up during lunches, and they got to pick the time they could donate.
Ben Ostrowski, the current president of HOSA, spoke with me about the blood drive. He said, “The blood drive has been somewhat of a tradition at the high school for a long time. Over the past few years HOSA has adopted it. Our members are the ones who do most of the prep work of getting people to sign up, setting up, and breaking down. The Red Cross does an amazing job of taking care of our students and staff that want to donate. This is drive two out of three this year, our next one will be in May giving anyone who donated enough time so they can donate again. We hope to keep three drives a year as a new norm for our high school. This past drive we succeeded in our goal of 26 pints with a total of 27. HOSA would like to thank everyone who donated! Also, we encourage them to educate their peers about the donation process and possibly have them donate this spring!”
Donating blood is a selfless act that can help individuals in need. If you can donate blood, please do so. It is much appreciated by not only the ARC workers but also by the countless people who get to walk another day or get to spend more time with their family. Even if you are not able to donate, you will be thanked tremendously for attempting to help. Congratulations to HOSA for holding such an amazing event!
