The annual blood drive event made its return to WEGO on April 17, motivating people to come by and make life-saving impacts just by donating blood.
Going back to 1943 when the first Versiti Blood Center was founded in Illinois and it was then established in Aurora. More than 155,000 units of blood are donated annually in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana where the Versiti Blood Center of Illinois serves 63 hospitals in a 12-country area.
Interact’s annual blood drive is an event at which participants donate blood to help maintain the supply needed in different areas. When critical, life-threatening situations occur, blood transfusions are used to treat patients.
Interact has teamed up with Versiti before: as in the past, all of the donors’ blood will be collected and transferred to the Chicagoland blood supply.
Before being permitted to donate, participants were required to be at least 16 or 17 years old, with a signed consent form to donate. Walk-ins were not permitted, unless a staff member.
Aside from the required procedures and rules, Interact’s blood drive offered a good opportunity to donate blood – a small amount can make a big difference in someone’s life.
“Even though you don’t know who your blood is saving, you can know that you can save up to three lives by donating a pint of blood,” Interact sponsor Gavin Engel said.
For around 20 to 25 years, the blood drive has been sponsored by the Interact Club, and to this day, many people still take part in donating their blood. However, after COVID-19, there was a significant decline in student participation. Many people seemed to be nervous about donating, especially during the outbreak. Before COVID, about 150 students participated in the blood drive each year. Last fall, only about 28 students and staff donated.
To ensure student safety, Versiti is a sterile and safe company that follows federal health guidelines. One of the services they provide is informing donors of their blood type and checking for any concerns, so there is nothing to worry about.
That sense of reassurance helped some students overcome their nerves. 
On April 17 snacks were offered to the blood donors as after care in order for them to replenish fluids and nutrients that’s been lost during the process. These snacks are helpful for reducing the risk of dizziness or lightheadedness in donors. (Photo by Alexa Cruz)
“I don’t know. I just felt like it was kind of a good deed, I guess in a way to help others you know that dont have a chance to get blood transmission and stuff like that,” junior Sammy Esquivel said.
Sammy Esquivel is one of the students who attended the blood drive on Thursday during the second period. She was nervous since this was her first time but shortly after the needle it felt like it did not really matter anymore: it felt right to do something so good.
“Well, it’s good knowing that at the end of the day there’s lives being saved every day. So that’s something that motivates me to work here,” Versiti employee Mia (last name withheld) said.
Every person has a different reason for why they participate in donating their blood – just like one of the workers who was present, Adriana (last name withheld). Her story involves her little sister, who served as her inspiration.
“My inspiration behind coming out to help in this blood drive today was that my sister, when she was younger, had to have multiple surgeries, and it included blood transfusions,” Adriana said.
For three and a half years, Adriana has been working at the Versiti company, and she deeply enjoys and loves her job. She is very satisfied at the end of each day knowing that someone else got the help that was needed.
“It’s just a great way for staff and students to give back to the greater community with life saving blood,” Engel said.
