BY BRIANNA BECERRA
The annual spring blood drive at WHS took place on Wednesday, February 26 during the school day. The Red Cross drive was run by first-year members of the National Honor Society. Many students took time out of their days to donate.
NHS members were given different tasks to perform throughout the day and were assigned various shifts to cover. Some members checked donors in while others made rounds with juice and snacks for those who were finished giving blood. Regardless of what they were assigned to, NHS members remained busy throughout the day.
Junior and National Honor Society member Ryan Sieber helped by checking in the donors. Later during the day, he was tasked with checking up on donors who were giving blood in order to make sure that they were comfortable.
“My favorite part was talking to the people who were giving blood and asking them why they decided to,” said Sieber. “I am terrified of giving blood, so I could never do it.”
Though Sieber was not able to bring himself to be a donor, he still offered his assistance throughout the day. He reports that it was a rewarding process to be a part of the drive and it was worth missing out on class time in order to help others.
Isaac Machar, junior and member of NHS, assisted at the blood drive and decided to be a donor as well. It was his first time giving blood, and he opted to donate two pints.
“It was an experience,” reported Machar. “It didn’t hurt. I was shocked at the number of people who passed out. I was uncomfortable afterwards, but that was okay because I know I’m making a difference.”
Machar was satisfied with his choice to donate blood and encourages others to sign up to donate for the next blood drive. He emphasized how important it is, as it could save the life of someone who needs it.
The February 26 Red Cross blood drive appears to be a success, as NHS members report that many students chose to become donors. The drive will continue in the future, as hosting a drive at the high school allows for students to have a simple route to donating blood.
