Donating blood is safe, simple and saves many lives all around the world. LHS senior Alicen Honner organized an event for students ages 17 and up, to give blood and help donate to give back to our community. 

There are many factors that come into play when giving blood. For example, one needs to hydrate and eat the proper foods to make them eligible to donate. If a person’s iron is below a certain number, then they are not eligible to give blood. Knowing this, Honner had everyone meet in NHS advisor Shawn Bogart’s room, for bagels, bananas, orange juice and water before school and throughout the day. This ensured that the maximum number of volunteers wanting to give blood would be able to. 

“We had a whole sign up sheet, so 44 people signed up to give blood but only 27 were actually able to give,” said Honner. 

Since she had been given the biggest role to schedule and plan this event, she had prepared and started by bringing attention to this event in order to have a good turnout.

“About a month before a scheduled date, I started putting posters up and inviting people to sign up and donate blood,” said Honner.

Giving blood is a universal way to help everyone. It is fairly easy and will make a positive impact on people. Blood is and will always be in huge demand no matter what time it is.  While giving blood can be scary, it helps more people than one may think. Just one donation can save three lives, according to Cedar Senai.org.  

Donating blood is a simple and easy process to go through. There are many places where people can sign up to give blood by just a click of a button. Honner set up for the intent of returning the favor to the community of Sioux Falls in a small way, but the little things can make a big difference.

“I think it’s really important to give back in any way you can to the community and giving blood is something almost everyone can do because it’s always in need,” said Honner.