The Fair Grove Spring Blood Drive was held all day Wednesday, April 24. The event took place in the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) building, and was conducted by CBOC (Community Blood Center of the Ozarks).
CBOC is a blood collection center which distributes blood to different local hospitals in the Ozarks. Every year they help conduct three different blood drives hosted by Fair Grove High School along with many other blood drives across the Ozarks.
Jalen Supancic, a teacher at Fair Grove High School and the advisor for FBLA shared, “We had around 80 individuals who attempted to donate, but not everyone is able to each time due to iron levels and other factors.” He continued, “This means that 73 people were able to successfully donate and those donations will go directly to people here in the Ozarks who are in very difficult situations.”
Many high school students and staff members donated blood as well as many community members throughout Fair Grove. This made it possible for the CBOC to collect 73 units of blood to distribute to different hospitals throughout the Ozarks.
Many people who donated had different reasons for why they decided to. Alyssa Snitker (12), who gave blood during both the spring and winter blood drive explained, “I decided to donate blood because I can and I know that it will help others. It is something that I have extra of so I might as well give it to others who need it.” Snitker shared, “My great grandma also inspired me because she received several pins for being an active donor for over 30 years.”
FBLA/DECA (Future Business Leaders of America/Distributive Education Clubs of America) annually runs both the summer (typically held in August) and spring blood drives while NHS (National Honors Society) runs the winter blood drive in December.
Supancic shared, “All of the FBLA/DECA officers work it throughout the day, and some of the FBLA/DECA members are able to sign up to help in shifts as well.”
Nolen Geitz (11), a member of FBLA/DECA explained his role as a volunteer. Geitz shared, “I decided to volunteer because I like to serve other people, and I think giving blood is awesome. I was a “bed comforter” and essentially just talked to people while they were giving blood, and got them water or Body Armor if they needed it.”
While a few donors were nervous or worried about giving blood, for most the process went extremely well. Snitker shared, “It was quick and easy, and pretty painless. I sat down and answered my questions… got all of my screening done to make sure I was able to donate. Then they sat me down in the chair and immediately started to draw my blood. Total took about 45 minutes.”
For anyone who didn’t meet the age requirement of 16 (with parental consent), was in a sport at the time, or just didn’t get the chance, there will still be three blood drives next school year to participate in as well as many others in the area throughout the year.
