This Halloween, Oct. 31, the National Honor Society (NHS), Red Cross Club and Key Club came together to organize a schoolwide blood drive. With more than 30 students and staff giving blood, this year’s turnout was larger than ever before.

Key Club, a service-based association for high school students, recently partnered with the Blood Drive’s long-time host, NHS 一 a co-curricular student organization that prioritizes character, leadership and service 一 for this year’s drive. Key Club sponsor and English teacher Andria Benmuvhar helped to organize the recruitment and execution of the event. 

“I [took] the time to figure out who can donate [at] what time [and] figured out what classes [students] have. I helped out with logistics of getting all the students and faculty down there for the day,” Benmuvhar said. 

Prior to the blood drive, students from NHS and Key Club recruited donors at lunch. With a table set up in the front, student volunteers spread the word about the importance of the blood drive. 

“At every lunch for two weeks, we had [students] down in the cafeteria recruiting. NHS and Key Club students got [service] hours for the recruiting people, so that was an extra incentive this year. Students could also get service hours for donating,” Benmuvhar said. 

Benmuvhar planned all components and communicated with a contact from Impact Life, an organization that collects and distributes blood products within the St. Louis area. NHS and Key Club co-president and senior Laith Alhamid worked with Benmuvhar and Impact Life to help set up the event. Alhamid recruited donors prior to the event through flyers, email and word of mouth. 

“The big thing has been going up to people and asking them to donate blood. Donations are so important to hospitals because without blood, many patients would not survive severe traumas. A little goes a long way in this case, and it is a really beneficial thing,” Alhamid said.

Impact Life required that donors were at least 16 years of age, so many juniors and seniors gave blood for the first time. In turn, donors had the opportunity to receive up to two service hours from the NHS and a 10 dollar gift card to any location of their choice. Junior Grace Garetson gave blood for the first time this Halloween.

“I’ve always wanted to give blood [and] help out the medical field, whether it’s being an organ donor or a blood donor. I haven’t been eligible because I haven’t been old enough. [However,] this year, I’m finally old enough,” Garetson said. “[I was] nervous about needles, and this was another way to push through [without] getting nervous and prove to myself that they’re not that scary.”

Many students chose not to donate due to potential risks or scares 一 passing out, a scare of needles and HIV concerns. With experienced professionals, however, Impact Life ensures the security of their donors. 

“[Impact Life] sent nurses to the school to take the blood,” Alhamid said. “I’ve donated the last two years at the blood drive, and it’s not hard. There is a big misconception about needles but getting your blood drawn is quick, easy and nice to do.”

Donations took 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the student or staff member. Each donor filled out a private medical questionnaire, completed a physical and was verified for suitable iron and hemoglobin levels before getting their blood drawn. 

“I had a great experience with donation, and I would 100 percent recommend it to people who are capable of donating. The nurses were nice and friendly, so I had an amazing time,” Garetson said.

No matter why students or staff donate, their impact on the community can be substantial. According to Red Cross Blood Donation, people in the U.S. need blood every two seconds. Moreover, Impact Life’s blood drive will keep blood local and potentially save up to three lives.

“Hospitals are always in need of blood, and a lot of times, we think we’re going to donate blood in an emergency like a hurricane or earthquake, but people need blood all the time,” Benmuvhar said. “[Donation] doesn’t hurt, and it can help people out [in the] long term, especially if you’re a universal donor.”