On Thursday Oct. 13, 2016, SHS helped the Red Cross hold a blood drive. The blood drive was held in the small gymnasium in the school. Many students and staff took part in the drive as they had an opportunity to give back to their community.

There were  many volunteers from the National Honors Society (NHS) that helped make the drive a success. They set up snacks and drinks for the donors after they gave blood. Senior Jodyann Matamis was one of the student volunteers. Matamis explained what it meant to her to be a volunteer. “Being a part of NHS means giving back to the community and it feels very gratifying to me,” Matamis said. “To see my peers doing something great is very inspirational and I think it is a great thing what they are doing.” Even though some volunteers like Matamis did not donate blood, they were still able to help the Red Cross.

There were many students who offered to donate their blood. They wanted to take time away from their day in order to donate a pint of blood for the people who need it. Senior Tazio Torregiani said, “I think it is a good cause and I wanted to do something nice; when they came up to me asking I thought it was just a good idea.”

Other donors felt similarly about their donations. Senior Chris Lopez said, “It is a great opportunity to help aid anyone who’s in need of it.”

Some of the requirements to donate are: the individual has to be at least 17 years old, and the height and weight must be compatible with each other. Some students were denied the opportunity due to weight and height requirements.

Overall, the blood drive was an accomplishment not only for the Red Cross, but also for the school. It allowed students and staff to participate and give back to the community. Hopefully in years to come, more drives will be held and people will donate to help those in need.