By Lindsey Smith–The upcoming LifeServe blood drive at Grace United Methodist Church on Morningside’s campus couldn’t come at a better time for Sioux City residents in need of blood.
LifeServe provides blood to more than 120 hospitals in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Due to recent winter weather and below freezing temperatures, a number of blood drives and appointments have been cancelled, leading to a dip in the local blood supply. Without a three to five-day supply of all blood types, many patients could face serious consequences.
Even with the winter weather, places like LifeServe still struggle to find the necessary 200,000 donors per year. Up to 90% of people will need blood at some point in their lives, yet fewer than 5% of eligible donors will donate on a regular basis. Just one donation saves three lives.
With this recent blood drive’s proximity to campus, many college students can help LifeServe while also helping themselves. The organization offers incentives for students who volunteer or donate, such as a $500 scholarship to those who organize a blood drive.
This may come as a surprise to many college students who might have avoided blood drives in the past because they didn’t meet the requirements for donation or have a fear of needles.
Austin Norton, a pre-med senior at Morningside College, has never donated before. At 5’8” and 120 pounds, he says, “I always thought I couldn’t donate because of my size and I think I’ve always just felt too busy to go to a blood drive.”
Despite college students’ busy schedules, donating or organizing blood drives looks good to future employers and the scholarship opportunities can put a dent in future student debt.
The blood drive will be held at the church on February 20th from 4:30 to 7 pm. First time donors will receive a free t-shirt.
For more information about this specific blood drive, you can contact Jill Sponder at 712-204-1856 or at jill.sponder@gmail.com. You can also schedule an appointment at https://donor.lifeservebloodcenter.org/dohedule/162016.
If you can’t make it to this blood drive, you can always schedule an appointment online or find upcoming blood drives with LifeServe at www.lifeservebloodcenter.org or call at 800-287-4903.
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