Meridian Blood Drive Returns

As Meridian returns for another year, they welcome any opportunity to help give back to the community. It’s time for Meridian’s second annual Red Cross Blood Drive! 

A new event hosted for the first time last year, Meridian is back collaborating with the Red Cross Foundation to hold a blood drive which contributes to help save people’s lives. 

“I organized this event last year with a senior… for a CAS project… it included five people, but two of them graduated, so our new team is Dheeraz Yamdati, Pranav Anil, Likhit Juluri, Aarush Sankar, and me”, says senior Krish Bhalani. “We wanted to bring a blood drive to Meridian as we saw it as a perfect opportunity to help the community in a way Meridian has not in previous years”.

The blood drive is set to take place Wednesday October 1, from 10 am to 4 pm. This year the blood drive is open to juniors, seniors, staff, as well as parents. Before donation, donors must meet specific requirements from the Red Cross Foundation such as a minimum weight, iron level, and being in good general health. 

The Red Cross Foundation explains “We ask these questions to ensure that it is safe for patients to receive your blood and to ensure that it is safe for you to donate blood that day.” 

Donating blood is an important service that saves countless lives. It is a great way to promote community, leadership, service, selflessness, and many other important Samaritan qualities. For DP students, this event is a rewarding and extremely convenient way to meet their service requirement for CAS. And if the snacks and refreshing juice provided after aren’t enough of sweet enticement, then the $10 Amazon gift card just might be! 

“I felt like this was an experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime”, stated Junior Kate Linscombe, when asked her reason for signing up to donate. 

Organizers aim to have 40 donors, a goal determined based on last year’s numbers plus the new addition of extending services to parents. 

Bhalani reports they are close to achieving this goal “currently…[there are] around 35 people signed up, which is far more than last year.” 

The blood drive is already off to a successful start with plans to have another later this school year! If you have the time to come down to Meridian, make a donation or visit a blood bank, we highly encourage you to do so!