In partnership with New York Blood Center (NYBC), Townsend Harris High School held its second blood drive of the year in the auditorium this past June. The spring Blood Drive comes after low turnout was seen at last school year’s fall blood drive, with just 11 people showing up to donate blood. According to NYBC, Townsend Harris made 63 blood donations in June, a significant increase from the fall blood drive.
Senior Advisor and Blood Drive organizer Blayne Gelbman said that this Blood Drive was “100 percent better [than last drive].” In the fall, Mr. Gelbman called the turnout “extremely low and disappointing,” and he emailed students a survey to gather information about how to improve turnout at future events.
Although Harrisites gave more blood in June, blood donations are still in short supply, a trend since the pandemic. According to NYBC, the pandemic has led to more than 20,000 fewer high school blood donations each year. On January 11, NYBC joined blood centers all over the country in an “emergency plea” for donations. By June, supplies were still too low. In a press release on June 3, NYBC declared “a blood emergency due to a significant drop in blood donations preceding and following Memorial Day weekend.”
Responding to inquiries from The Classic, NYBC shared that they have seen a 50% decrease in youth and first-time donors in the past four years.
However, THHS students can still donate over the summer with or without a THHS event taking place– as long as they are 17 or older (or 16 with a parent/guardian’s written permission). Donations can be made (by appointment or as a walk-in) at any NYBC donor center or community blood drive.
Over the summer, due to breaks and vacations, blood donations can be harder to come by, with types O- and O+ being critically low, according to NYBC.
Harrisites had a wide range of reasons for why they wanted to donate blood at this spring’s drive, with many sharing that they wanted to get involved and help those in need.
Senior Ashley Asitimbay gave blood during the spring drive, saying it was something she’d wanted to do before graduating. She also said she thought seniors were stressed from college applications and other senior responsibilities in the fall, which led fewer students to participate.
Senior and donor Danica Tores said she thought additional advertising within the school could help increase turnout. “[There should be more posters, generally more emails about it, and people advertising [during free bands],” she said.
Junior and donor Daniel Cho said the experience he had was professional and handled well, but he said a change of venue might also help: “Atmosphere-wise, I think putting it in the gym might be better. I feel like having the [auditorium] lights shine up and having to walk up [to the stage] is a little daunting.”
According to NYBC, just one blood donation has the ability to save up to three lives. The organization encourages students to both donate and encourage their friends to donate as well.
