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Community Corner

Hundreds Donate at Penncrest's Blood Drive

Penncrest students and community members donated blood to the Red Cross on Wednesday.

Hundreds of students poured into the school’s gymnasium over the course of the day on Wednesday but not to throw dodge balls—to donate blood. Penncrest’s annual blood drive, coordinated by the school’s National Honor Society members, allows students and community members to give back by donating blood to the Red Cross.

"The morning was busy, but kids are moving through the system nicely," National Honor Society sponsor and teacher DeAnn Scherer said.

From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Penncrest students donated blood, and from 2 to 8 p.m., the gym was opened to community members wishing to donate.

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About 280 students registered for the drive, Scherer said. The goal, she said, was to get 240 donations, since some of the students who signed up would be unable to donate due to sickness, low iron, or other prohibiting factors.

About 80 community members had pre-registered to donate, Scherer said, but about 100 were expected to show up over the course of the six-hour community drive.

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The process—for both students and later, for community members–involved registering, waiting, going through a health screening with a Red Cross nurse, and the actual blood donation, Scherer said.

Trained Red Cross nurses conducted screenings and performed the actual procedure, but during the school day, National Honor Society volunteers handled registration, prepared lunches for donors, and acted as "blood buddies"—reading stories to fellow students as their blood was taken.  

National Honor Society volunteer senior Holly Archambo was busy handing out stickers to donors even though she couldn't donate herself.

"One person fainted, and that was scary," Archambo said. "But for the most part the blood drive has been good… it was really well put together."

Senior Joe Charles said he was relatively laid-back about the blood donation process. This is his second year donating at Penncrest’s blood drive.

"It's quick, and I'm pretty good with needles—it's pretty painless." Charles said. "It’s an easy way to do community service, and it’s not so bad."

Senior Crystal Dimeler, a first time donor, said she was nervous about giving blood at first.

"Every time she touched my arm, I’d flinch," Dimeler said. "I was nervous, but it was more the anticipation than the actual process."

Dimeler said she would absolutely give blood again.

"It only takes an hour of your day and it’s a good thing to do," Dimeler said. And, she added, as she learned through her experience, "It’s nothing to worry about."

For more information on donating blood and where you can find a blood donation center near you, visit the American Red Cross.

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