 "Photo: Stacy Welkowitz")
Despite rain throughout the day and a brief elevator complication, the new Boston University Hillel House's first blood drive attracted more than 83 students, more than 60 of which donated without appointments.
Red Cross charge nurse Joy, who declined to give her last name because of Red Cross policy, said Hillel aim collect about 50 pints during the drive, which they achieved after the first five hours of the seven-hour event.
Red Cross holds blood drives on campus about every 10 weeks in a variety of locations, and has traditionally had good student attendance, Joy said.
Hillel Student Activities Director Kip Lombardo said the drive is one example of the new possibilities plausible after the house's debut.
"Our old building did not have enough space to host an event like this," he said. "So it's great that we've been busy all day long."
The blood drive was held in the fourth-floor meeting area of Hillel House. Many students said the environment at Hillel helped them feel comfortable with giving blood.
The Red Cross rejects donors because of health reasons including international travel, piercings and tattoos.
The drive was open to the public and students from local universities came to donate. Northeastern University sophomore Garrett Marques said he was referred to the BU drive after he was turned away at a blood drive earlier this month.
"I tried to donate at Fenway Park after Katrina," he said. "There were so many people I didn't get a chance to, but giving blood is a great way to give back to the community that you're a part of."
Many students said Hurricane Katrina inspired them to donate blood.
"It's just something I felt I needed to do," College of Arts and Sciences freshman Charles Chong said.
Joy said many students donate blood once they get to college.
"They know it's time and they tend to donate regularly," she said.
CAS junior Carolyn Sinnett has donated seven times before.
"It's kind of a family tradition," she said. "The more often you donate blood the easier it is. Also, the more you eat and drink before the easier your blood flows."
Chong said donating was not as painful as he expected.
"In general I don't really like needles," he said. "But it's not so bad." Hillel Public Relations Vice President Meredith Spector said Hillel hopes to hold more drives throughout the year, but with more advertising.
"In the past the blood drives have been advertised a little better for different locations, so it's a shame this wasn't advertised as well," she said. "We host a lot of events that are very cultural, Jewish or social, so more community service events like this that reach a broader base will be good for Hillel House."
Be the first to comment on this article!