Across the nation and worldwide, there is always a need for donated blood. Blood drives and the donations of blood and plasma can have significant impacts on people’s lives, and the need has increased during the pandemic. To signify the importance, the American Red Cross states that “Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer…every two seconds, someone in the U.S needs blood” (American Red Cross). In addition to the benefits of blood donations, donated plasma from people who have had Covid-19 can help those suffering from the virus still. The blood cells are removed, so that only the helpful antibodies and plasma are left behind. Due to the clear importance and need for blood drives, one BHS senior has stepped up to help make a difference.
Andrew Soden recognized the need for donations, and decided to create a blood drive for his senior project. The drive is located at the Bedford Country Inn and Suites, in Manchester off of South Willow Street, on March 30th. It runs from 10 am to 4 pm, with limited capacity due to the pandemic. If interested, use this link to register online. Blood and plasma can be donated, but parental permission is needed if under the age of eighteen. The donations will help hospitals in New Hampshire and beyond. Andrew himself has already donated blood multiple times, and was motivated to set up the drive, because “there’s a lot of people who need blood, and a lot of people don’t realize that until they are the people who need it…for us to help other people it would be great.” In terms of organizing the drive, Andrew said it was “a lot of back and forth, the hardest part was finding places to do it.” Covid restrictions were another added challenge too, because of spacing people six feet apart and finding a bulding to accommodate so many people. With all of the hard work Andrew has put in to help make a difference in our community, please consider signing up to donate!
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