The four-day Red Cross blood drive at Kansas State collected 286 pints of blood, falling short of its goal of 450.
“While donations were a little short of goal during this drive, we’re so grateful to everyone at Kansas State University who took time out of their day to give blood and help save lives,” Jan Hale, external communications manager for the American Red Cross, said.
The goal for the spring semester drive was 450 donations. As one of the largest Red Cross drives in the state, K-State students, faculty and staff remain loyal and committed blood donation partners for the Red Cross, Hale said.
“In the end, we know the real winners are the patients who will be receiving blood donated from this week,” Hale said.
One Red Cross donation can save up to three lives. Just this week, K-State students, faculty and staff saved approximately 858 lives.
Emily Glenn, junior in agriculture education and Sigma Alpha sorority member, donated in the spring blood drive for the first time. Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority, strives to succeed in scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service.
Glenn said Sigma Alpha’s main focus of philanthropy — and her mom’s encouragement — swayed her decision to donate.
“I was encouraged to donate for the opportunity to give back and pay it forward,” Glenn said.
Glenn said she had an incredible experience donating for the first time.
“It was really encouraging to do something for someone else in need,” Glenn said.
The process was exceptionally simple and only took about 30 minutes, Glenn said.
“One of my favorite parts of donating was visiting with the Red Cross nurse assistant during my donation process,” Glenn said. “The nurse assistant was from an urban community and wasn’t familiar with the agriculture industry. Therefore, I was able to discuss the industry and the goal of Sigma Alpha with him.”
“In the future, I hope to continue giving because it helps those in need,” Glenn said.
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During the four-day blood donation drive, groups like the American Red Cross Club, KSU Vet-Med Club, Pre-Vet Club, Delta Chi, Phi Alpha, Pre-Physical Therapy Club and others helped the event run smoothly.
Campus groups and student volunteers play a vital role in every aspect of the K-State Red Cross blood drive, Hale said.
“From promotion to donor check-in and manning the refreshment areas during the drives and even loading and unloading, these students provide invaluable assistance with such a large blood drive,” Hale said.
Rebekah Castle, senior in social work and Phi Alpha Tau Honor Society member, volunteered to help in the blood drive. Phi Alpha Tau Honor Society fosters high standards to promote humanitarian goals and ideals for social work majors.
“This was my first-time volunteering at the K-State blood drive,” Castle said. “As a volunteer, I helped primarily at the check-in desk, writing out nametags, taking temperatures and ensuring ID verification.”
Even though Castle didn’t donate at this drive, she said she plans to donate in the future.
“Many lives are saved because of the work Red Cross does,” Castle said. “If K-State students can donate, it is important they do.”
