The Williston Northampton School hosted a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Monday, December 12. Seniors Alex Nunnelly (Florence, MA) and Adrian Mendoza (Santa Ana, CA) worked together to organize and recruit donors for the December blood drive.
The holiday season is a crucial time for blood donations, since demand for blood increases due to holiday travel, and supply falls because people are busy. “It’s difficult … to get donations right before the holidays, so our participation is crucial and appreciated,” says history teacher Peter Gunn, who works with students each year on the blood drive. Accroding to Gunn, Williston’s participation rate has been among the top five for highschools in Massachusetts twice in the past five years (second and fifth). Six students have received college scholarship funds as a result of the program’s success.
This community effort ended with over 80 people who donated blood, and including the double red cell donations, Williston donors made a difference in the lives of 86 people. That means 258 people will enjoy another birthday party, another hug, another chance because of the many wonderful student donors and volunteers who made this drive a success. Mr. Gunn added, “Alex and Adrian did a wonderful job in building support and organizing effort for the blood drive.”
The Red Cross blood drive will be held twice more at Williston this year, on Sunday, February 12 and Friday, May 25.