Student Council hosted a school-wide blood drive on Friday, Oct. 10. The event took place in the auxiliary gymnasium, located inside the Berry Bowl, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm. Members of the LHS Student Council worked alongside American Red Cross nurses in this annual partnership.
The blood drive, a recent tradition at LHS, aims to collect blood from viable students while simultaneously influencing non-participating students to support the cause in the future. This event was first announced to the LHS student body on Sept. 24 via Schoology. Posters were subsequently displayed around the school to continue the promotion of the event.
A wide range of students participated in the event, with some being experienced donors from past blood drives and others making their decision to donate mere hours before the drive. Junior Cesar Martin-Acosta, a previous donor at last year’s blood drive, joined the drive on a whim.
“A lady came up to me during lunch, asking me if I wanted to donate blood,” Martin-Acosta said. “She said I could save a life, so I said ‘sure.’”
Not all students who donated their blood at the drive were as calm as Martin-Acosta. One such example was junior Emma Leffert. Initially concerned about meeting the qualifications of donating blood, Leffert was relieved when she was approved to participate in the blood drive. Although apprehensive towards the idea of donating her blood at first, Leffert decided to participate in the drive and advised others to do the same.
“Do it,” Leffert said. “You only live once. Just donate it.”
Martin-Acosta shared a similar sentiment while in the process of donating his own blood.
“I feel proud to be able to help other people,” Martin-Acosta said. “I would encourage other people to give blood as well because it saves lives.”
