Students at Granite Hills High School will soon have an opportunity to make a life-saving impact as a blood drive comes to campus this spring.
The drive will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on April 23 in the Mini Gym, giving eligible students a chance to support hospitals and patients in need.
Granite Hills senior Hailey Perez, one of the student organizers, explained the effort behind the event and how students can get involved.
“When we first created this project, we wanted to have as many participants as possible. We collaborated with GTV, Cancer Awareness Club, Link Crew, and, of course, our peers,” Perez said. “We collected 61 participants from the interest form and are still getting time slots filled in the official sign-up sheet.”
Blood drives are an important way communities help maintain a steady supply of blood for emergencies, surgeries, and medical treatments. By hosting this event, Granite Hills hopes to encourage students to get involved in community service and make a difference beyond the classroom.
Students who want to donate must meet several requirements. Donors have to be at least 16 years old, weigh over 110 pounds, and have their parents’ permission.
For some students, the decision is deeply personal. Senior Claudia Aguilar shared her motivation for participating in the event.
“I am donating blood because I had the realization recently that sometimes that can be the last chance for someone to live,” Aguilar said. “It recently happened to someone close to me, and I thought about how this one small gesture could make a difference in someone’s life.”
Granite Hills senior Anabel Pelayo said she wanted to donate blood because it could maybe save somebody’s life.
“I want to donate blood because it’s such a simple way to help someone in a serious situation,” she said. “You don’t always get the chance to make a real difference and this is something small that can actually save a life.”
Organizers are also working on several ways to encourage student participation. Some of these ideas are offering recognition and incentives to students who take part in this activity. Clubs on campus are also trying to be encouraging by spreading awareness and sign-ups.
This event will also give our students the chance to learn more about the importance of blood donation and how donations like this can benefit not one but multiple people.
Students interested in participating are encouraged to sign up ahead of time and make sure they meet the donation requirements. By donating blood, students can play a direct role in helping save lives and supporting the community.
At the end of the process, Perez emphasized exactly how students can sign up and prepare for the event.
“Scan the new QR codes that are on the flyers posted around campus. You have to fill it out to participate. Log in to your Google account and pick a slot for when you would like to donate. It is first-come, first-served, but if spots fill up, we’ll do our best to add more appointments,” Perez said. “Remember to fill out the Quick Pass form to skip the line and make the process easier. You will be receiving a pass to excuse you from class and a parent permission form. If you are under the age of 18, fill out the form and turn it in to Mrs. Kisling in room LCC6. This is a great opportunity to give back to the community.”
You may also go online to learn more at DONATEBLOOD.ORG.
