On March 4 and 5, Cherry Hill High School East Students saved lives by participating in the annual spring blood drive.
This spring, the East Blood Drive Committee provided an outlet for students to be heroes by allowing them to donate blood and plasma to those in need. Throughout the day, students donated blood in various time slots in the annex.
The past fall blood drive was a huge success, featuring a large-scale production and great donor turnout. In the fall blood drive, the East Blood Drive Committee collected over 461 units of blood.
“Our team is always really great. We work on getting donors [and] getting different food donations from local businesses… our past blood drive…was very successful,” said Sonia Motiwala (‘27), one of the chairpeople on the East Blood Drive Committee.
The preparation leading up to the spring blood drive was immense, with Amber Lanci (‘27) and Motiwala, the chairpeople of the East Blood Drive, leading the committee. They selected a Stranger Things-inspired theme and created a t-shirt, which was given to all donors. Additionally, the East Blood Drive Committee advertised the event on social media, posted flyers, and ensured that all interested students were able to donate blood. They also hosted a “Dunkin for Donors,” passing out munchkins to all who signed up to donate blood in advance of the drive.
One issue that tends to occur repeatedly with the blood drives is the fear of needles and the overall stigma surrounding blood drives.
“It’s always hard getting past the stigma of blood donation. A lot of people are afraid of needles, which is understandable, but making sure that we’re educating our donors is super important,” said Montiwala.
Another issue that tends to arise is scheduling conflicts, with a DECA event and the Blood Drive having occurred at approximately the same time. The East Blood Drive Committee wants to make sure that as many students as possible can attend without difficulty.
The donor experience is a unique opportunity to save lives. Donors go through a short process to sign up via Google Form, and some had to sign consent forms if they were under 16-years-old. An important part of the donor experience was ensuring that donors were well hydrated and had eaten sufficient food before donating. Then came the check-in, the blood taking, and finally, sitting down.
Surprisingly, many donors didn’t feel a lot of anxiety considering needles and blood would be involved.
“I never felt nervous. Because you come in, people greet you, make you feel welcomed, and that calmed my nerves,” said Cole Haddock (‘26). “And then getting to the table felt good ’cause the staff is really nice here, so I felt like I was…in good hands.”
Brad Hendricks (‘26), a member of the East Blood Drive Committee, reflected on the success of the schoolwide blood drive.
“It’s been successful…We’ve had a lot of volunteers, and we have a lot of good food options, so it’s been pretty good,” said Hendricks
Donors reflected on the new perspective that donating blood has given them on helping people in general, with many people describing positive emotions and outlooks.
“It gives me a perspective of what goes on on the other side of when people get blood,” said Shia Snyder (‘26). “It lets you know how they’re getting it, how the process works, and understanding where it comes from. It feels amazing. I love the idea of that, and I love helping.”
Additionally, the community blood drive on March 5 from 3 to 8 p.m. contributed to the overall success of the blood drive, with many people coming in. During the afternoon, the blood drive operation was moved to the Dance Gym as opposed to the annex. While some were turned down due to issues such as low iron, high blood pressure, or being currently taking antibiotics, it was still a highly successful community event, garnering both schoolwide and community engagement.
