American Red Cross Hosts Blood Drive in HUB’s Alumni Hall

Story posted November 18, 2019 in CommRadio, News by Grace McCarthy

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The American Red Cross held its ninth blood drive this month in the HUB’s Alumni Hall on Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The drive is one of the last of the 25th annual Penn State vs. Michigan State blood donor challenge, which started on Nov. 4. The challenge is a pint-for-pint competition to see which university can collect the most blood. 

American Red Cross volunteer Melissa Wolf shared a little bit about the blood drive participants.

“It’s mostly students because the pure number of people that are on campus are mostly students,” Wolf said. “But, yes, we do get a lot of faculty too, and we get some people in the community as well.”

Both universities set a goal to collect 1,000 units of blood this year for a combined total of 2,000 units.

Penn State sophomore and biochemistry major Hannah Brucker donated blood for the second time this year. 

“I did it before so I figured I would again because I really liked it, and it’s also a good way to get service hours,” Brucker said.

The last chance for students and faculty to donate blood as a part of the challenge is Thursday, Nov. 21, at Alumni Hall from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Scheduling an appointment is recommended, but walk-in donations are also available.

 

Grace McCarthy is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email gem5279@psu.edu.