The HOSA club held its annual blood drive again this year in October, successfully meeting its overall objective of blood collected from students, parents, and more. However, this wouldn’t have been accomplished without the help of the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, Mrs. Hasson, and HOSA officers, including their president Jocelyn Auxier

“For me, I do believe in giving back. The blood drive is just so simple; if you’re eligible, it’s like you are saving lives. There is a blood shortage worldwide, and I said I wanted to help because I know that I’m making a difference,” Jocelyn said.

The blood drive was able to collect 97 units of blood this fall season. “97 units for the fall is really good because our fall numbers tend to be low because of students’ extracurriculars and schedules. Our goal every year for hosting these blood drives is to bring communities together to save lives,” teacher Jennifer Hasson said.

With the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, one of the largest community blood centers in the United States, serving 26 countries across the Gulf Coast and having to serve in more than 170 hospitals, the blood drive became immensely professional and safe, making sure all students and parents were handled with medical care. The drive included students who offered to give blood with a professional screening for things that could potentially make them ineligible for donating blood, like hemoglobin and low iron. If they are eligible to give blood, they are gone through the procedure of getting blood drawn.

Because of how much blood was donated, the target of collecting enough blood was met this year. Without the help from all volunteers who had donated their blood for the small sake of saving lives, the blood bank would not have been as successful in getting enough blood to help the communities and blood shortage that is all across America.