Altoona Area High School hosts blood drive to help with critical need

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, according to the American Red Cross .

In an effort to help the Red Cross with its critical need for blood donations, the Altoona Area High School Student Council hosted a fall blood drive on Tuesday.

It was held from from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. near the lobby of the school.

“They’re in critical need right now. So having our students have the opportunity to support that through donation and many of them are first time donors. So we’re really hopeful that they’ll continue on and be lifetime donors as well,” Student Council Advisor, Amy Palfey said.

For last year’s fall blood drive, the Red Cross projected that the students would donate 21 useable units of blood and were able to collect 36 usable units of blood. In the Spring 2024 blood drive, they projected 26 units of usable blood and collected 38 usable units.

This year, there were first time donors, and students who come back again to donate.

“It didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it was going to. I was actually pretty comfortable. It makes me incredibly happy. I’m so glad that something that I can just replenish easily can help someone else,” Jorja Kimball, a senior at the high school said.

Kimball was also a first time donor.

“They’re great. They’re brave kids, they’re curious and they are absolutely generous. I believe the Red Cross enjoys coming here and seeing the students and just giving them an opportunity for a new experience to give back to their community,” Palfey said.

The students were able to collect 31 usable units for the Red Cross from Tuesday’s blood drive.

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Student Council will host another drive in next Spring.

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