Posters are displayed in the hallways at East to encourage students to donate blood and support the community. Photo by Syeda Zaidi.

On November 1, East’s student council will kick off its annual fall blood drive. Welcoming students aged 16 and above to make a difference by donating blood to help local hospitals with the ongoing blood shortage. This one-day event encourages eligible students to contribute to the community, offering each donor two hours of community service and a free t-shirt as tokens of appreciation.

Participation requires that students meet specific eligibility criteria to ensure a safe and beneficial donation process. Ms. Stephanie Scapino, Student Council Coordinator and English teacher at East, emphasizes the importance of meeting these requirements responsibly.

“Students must be at least 16 years of age and meet certain weight requirements, generally based on height. 16 year olds also require parental permission to donate,” Scapino said. 

The donation process is designed to maintain both safety and efficiency, following a series of carefully planned steps to ensure each student’s well-being.

“Students are assigned a certain time slot and will come to the PAC for their appointed time.  They are then screened by Versiti personnel and if they pass the screening, they come to the stage to donate,” Scapino said. “ The donation itself takes approximately 30-40 minutes and then afterward, students will have a short resting period where they will have snacks and drinks. After the donation, the student returns to class.”

Beyond community service hours or a free t-shirt, blood donation offers students a chance to directly save lives. Donated blood is crucial for patients undergoing surgeries, recovering from accidents, or living with chronic conditions like sickle cell disease. Due to an ongoing national blood shortage, the need has never been greater; every two seconds, someone in the U.S. requires blood. One donation can even help multiple people, as blood can be separated into red cells, plasma, and platelets.

Aside from its community impact, donating blood also provides some benefits for the donor’s health. According to Ms. Alexis McCue, a nurse at East, blood donations can provide certain health benefits while helping to alleviate the persistent blood shortage.

“There’s typically always a shortage, and many people need blood to heal and manage their illnesses. If we can donate to help them, then we should,” McCue said.

Ms. McCue also advises students on the health guidelines they should follow before and after donating, underscoring the importance of preparation and self-care.

“You should only donate if you’re in a healthy state. If you’re sick or unwell, it’s best not to donate,” McCue said. “Make sure you’re well-rested, hydrated, and have eaten before donating, and afterward, avoid strenuous activities.”

Senior Genesis Matute, a returning donor, shared her own experience, reflecting on the emotional rewards of helping others through her donation.

“I feel good when I donate blood because it gives me satisfaction. It makes me happy to think my blood will help save someone’s life,” Matute said.

As the blood drive approaches, East’s Student Council is hopeful that many students will step forward to make a life-saving difference. Through this collective effort, students can take pride in knowing their contributions will provide vital support to patients in need, proving that even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.

Written by Juniors Syeda Zaidi and Gabriella Maza . Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.