Two-Day Blood Drive Impressively Offsets Storm-Related Donor Shortage
Published 11.09.2012
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"The amazing faculty, staff and students at Penn College know that their blood contributions save lives every day,” noted Carl L. Shaner, College Health Services director, after a Wednesday/Thursday drive netted 294 pints of blood – 50 more than the college's inaugural two-day collection in September. Nationwide, around 44,000 blood donations are needed each day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and children with blood disorders. Hurricane Sandy affected collections in the Northeast, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of American Red Cross blood drives and resulting in a shortfall of more than 7,000 donations so far. The Red Cross said it "can always count on Penn College to come through in a crisis. The donors are amazing, and the staff requests to come here because they love it!” Red Cross recruiters had challenged students to beat their counterparts from Lock Haven University, which conducted a two-day drive last week; Penn College exceeded that collection by 54 units. As gratifying as the totals were – each pint potentially saves three lives, so 882 people ultimately could benefit – donors were also treated to pizza, baked goods and other giveaways, courtesy of Woodbury Financial, Weis Markets, Suburban Propane and Panera Bread.