On February 9th, 2022, Garden City Community College held a campus Blood Drive sponsored by the American Red Cross. It was open for GC3 students, staff, and faculty, along with community members as well. The Blood drive took place in the Dennis Perryman Athletic Complex Gym from 9:00am to 1:00pm. On January 13th of this year, the American Red Cross declared a national blood crisis, and the United States is currently facing its worst blood shortage in over a decade. The extremely low blood supply has forced some hospitals to defer patients from major surgery, including organ transplants. As a result of the Covid 19 pandemic, there has been a drop in blood drives and blood donations, and now more than ever it’s important to donate blood if you’re able to. 

Donating blood has a lot of positive effects. If you’re eligible to donate blood, you can end up saving 3 lives. Donating blood can also help patients who have been through accidents, burn victims, heart surgery, organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. Every two seconds, someone in the US needs blood. When donating blood, there’s also a lot of personal perks that come with it. Donating blood can help reduce harmful iron stores, lower your risk of developing a heart attack, and can help your liver stay healthy. Those who donated blood at Garden City Community College, will receive a 10 dollar amazon gift card as well.

 The school nurse Patricia “Trish” Miller thinks donating blood is extremely important. “It’s something that’s always needed and something I have,” Miller said. She has donated two gallons of blood throughout her lifetime, and participated in blood donations in the 80’s at Garden City Community College when she was a student here. Nurse Miller was well aware of the national blood shortage and stated, “We are all so grateful for all of the students, volunteers, donors, and student staff members that have helped make this so successful. Thank you to the American Red Cross for hosting the event, along with the donors, and volunteer staff.