By: Ashley Leach

Even before the COVID pandemic blood donations were a challenge. In October the SADD club partnered with the New York Blood center to help in this cause by sponsoring their annual blood drive. SADD members helped register students and teachers and assisted in the East Gym during the actual drive.  SADD club stands for “Students Against Destructive Decisions” Our goal is to inform teenagers in our school community of the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol and how to make good decisions for ourselves and others around us. Promoting the blood drive is most certainly a good decision that helps our community. SADD has previously collaborated with the blood center to host blood drives at HS East. Our 2019 blood drive was extremely successful, but unfortunately due to COVID-19 restrictions did not happen in 2020. This year students from grades eleventh and twelfth came down during their lunch as well as their off periods to donate blood ultimately saving lives.  Each donation has the potential to assist up to 3 people in need of blood. Club members helped promote the drive and helped in the registration process and check in process.  The whole process was quick and streamlined.  Students that came down to the east gym first checked in then were asked to answer health-related questions. Once this was completed, donors waited until a staff member from the blood center called them over to confirm their information and take some preliminary blood levels. If all checked out they were ready to be seated in the chair to donate blood. This year, we received a fantastic amount of donations, and hopefully it will help many people. Stay tuned for our next blood drive in the Spring of 2022. Please consider donating.   The process is quick and easy and your blood donation can make a difference to someone in need.