After several national blood shortages recently, Summit hosted a Red Cross blood drive in the small gym where students 16 and over, as well as staff, were invited to donate to the worthy cause on Friday Nov. 18.

Hosting a blood drive helps a cause that saves millions of lives each year; blood donations are needed for hospital patients of all ages from accident and burn victims to heart surgery and organ transplant patients and those battling cancer.

The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood although only three percent of age-eligible people donate yearly.

There are numerous reasons to donate, but it comes down to the fact that there is no substitute for blood. Donors provide the only supply of this life-saving substance for those in need. Additionally, it’s a simple and convenient commitment for anyone 16 and older (16 year olds require a guardian signed permission slip).

“I believe it’s a good cause for everyone to donate to, as it only takes 30 minutes of your time and could save up to three lives. This action impacts both the patient and their whole family,” said organizer and Summit junior Emerson Williams. 

The small act of donating blood can go a long way in helping those in need. “Little things like this also help to bring our community together on both a small scale and a large scale,” said Williams.