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Blood Drive Draws to Close Thursday
Organizers encourage donors to stop by on last day of event
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The UNL Spring Blood Drive ends Thursday. Donors can stop by the second floor of the city campus union to give blood. Photo by Brady Jones, NewsNetNebraska. |
by Emily Ingram, NewsNetNebraska
The UNL Spring Blood Drive wraps up Thursday, and organizers encourage interested donors to stop by the second floor of the Union between 11 a.m.-5 p.m. to give blood.
“It’s just a little thing I can do, but it’s what I can do to do my part,” said Lauren Novak, a freshman nutrition science major, after donating to the American Red Cross.
The blood drive benefits both the Red Cross and the Community Blood Bank, said Alex Moustakes, the Campus Red Cross’ blood drive coordinator.
“We ask if [donors] have a preference,” she said, but organizers try to keep a steady flow of donors going to both organizations.
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“It’s a great way for you to help people and save their lives,” said Moustakes, adding that each donation can save up to three lives.
Novak said her second time donating blood went well despite having to have blood drawn from both arms; blood from her left arm’s vessel stopped flowing, forcing her to finish her donation via her right arm.
Scott Parish, a Red Cross employee who organizes blood drives in Lancaster County, said though the organization had no special shortages, blood is always needed.
“We need every blood type, but we always shoot for O, particularly O negative because it can be given to anyone,” Parish said.
Parish said organizers were hoping to have 600 people come through the door at the Union ballroom for the blood drive. Wednesday’s turnout seemed better than Tuesday’s, he added. “Hopefully, that trend will continue.”
Handling hundreds of donors can’t happen without plenty of help, though, Moustakes said.
Members of the Campus Red Cross and NU Connections, along with student Health Aides, helped keep the blood drive going. Volunteers and employees of the Red Cross and the Community Blood Bank were also on hand.
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UNL Spring Blood Drive
When: Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m
Where: Second floor
of city campus union
Register online to reserve
a time or just stop by
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Eligibility requirements
- Be at least 17 years old. (There is no upper age limit)
- Weigh 115 pounds or more.
- Be in good health.
- No colds, flu, cold sores or antibiotics
72 hours prior to donating.
- No tattoos in the past 12 months.
- No risk of HIV or hepatitis
- Bring a photo identification.
Source: Community Blood Bank
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To see and hear more about the blood drive
from donors and organizers, click here.
Video by Daniel Leifeld.
To see a slideshow of more photos
from the blood drive, .click here.
Slideshow by Brady Jones.
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Merle Wilhelm, a longtime blood donor, has worked with the Community Blood Bank for 18 years. Photo by Brady Jones, NewsNetNebraska.
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One of those employees was Merle Wilhelm with of the Community Blood Bank. A regular donor for years before joining the organization part-time, Wilhelm said a nurse first asked him to help the blood bank on a short-term basis.
“I said, ‘OK, I’ll help you for a week or so.’ And that was 18 years ago,” Wilhelm said.
“If gasoline weren’t so high, I would volunteer, but the way it is, I gotta have an income,” he said laughing.
After donors gave, they were treated to an assortment of food donated by local vendors, including pizza, burritos, chips and salsa, doughnuts and more.
Though the food might be one reason students donate, Wilhelm said he stresses another, more emotional motive.
“I tell the donors, ‘I bet you’re feeling better in your heart,'" he said. "I don’t know what else a person can do that’s better for mankind."
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