ISU Blood Drive: Saving lives in times of shortage
Every semester, the Iowa State University Blood Drive holds the largest student-run blood drive in the nation. The Memorial Union will open its doors to students and community members to donate blood for the American Red Cross Monday to Thursday.
“The blood drive is the largest student-led drive in the nation, with about one thousand donors each semester,” Rachel Redd, a senior majoring in kinesiology and co-director for the drive, said. “Each semester the ISU Blood Drive impacts over three thousand lives.”
The Red Cross Foundation announced that the U.S. is currently in a national blood shortage, which is the second-ever national blood supply shortage the country has ever faced. The drive welcomes all students to donate whole blood or Power Red.
“A blood drive provides blood donors with a safe, controlled environment to give their donation while being monitored by professionals with experience in blood donation,” Thomas Roth, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering and co-director for the drive, said. “Our goal is for donating blood to be a positive experience. We encourage donors to utilize the resources.”
Blood donations are used for surgeries, illnesses, newborns and mothers and accidents. There has been a spike in usage for cancer patients due to the large spike in cancer diagnoses in Iowa.
“25% of the blood collected by the Red Cross has been used to help cancer patients. With Iowa having one of the highest cancer rates in the nation, our drive provides a huge boost to our state’s treatment ability,” Roth said.
The drive is run by the students taking roles as different director positions and their committees. These committees are what help the drive run smoothly, from working on logistics with the Red Cross to assisting donors before and after the donation.
“Preparation for the drive begins months in advance and is truly a team effort,” Robert Main, a senior majoring in supply chain management and Co-Director, said. “While the drive only lasts a few days, it takes months of planning and collaboration from our members to make it a success.”
Melia Pursley, a sophomore majoring in environmental science and fundraising executive for the drive, explained how her committee prepares for the drive.
“The weeks leading up to the drive are focused on reaching out to local businesses, organizing community fundraisers and securing donations that are essential for funding the drive’s operations,” Pursley said.
Carson Ekis, a senior majoring in marketing and on-campus executive for the drive, shared how a lot of their work included recruiting students through tabling and throwing events in the weeks prior to the drive.
“Our team works hard to recruit donors, partner with local businesses for fundraisers, run social media outreach and table across campus to spread awareness,” Ekis said.
The reasons behind joining a committee differ, from wanting a community at ISU to someone not being able to donate blood and still wanting to make an impact.
“Being a part of the drive felt like a natural extension of a cause I was already deeply passionate about,” Pursley said. “[It allows] me to create a direct, positive impact on the Ames community. Working with a team that is not just an organization, but an active force saving lives.”
To sign up to donate blood at the ISU Blood Drive, go to redcrossblood.org, type in “CYCLONES” and pick a time slot. Walk-ins are also available to everyone interested in donating.