Students Roll Up Sleeves To Give Back

(New Lenox) – Providence Catholic students and staff rolled up their sleeves once again to donate blood. This is the schools second blood drive of the year and is sponsored by the schools Augustinian Youth Ministry (AYM).

Being able to help someone in need is the driving force behind the donations. For senior, Jack Barrett, donating blood is not new to him or his twin sister Claire to take part in. They not only donate to the Providence Catholic blood drives but they also donate blood regularly at the Heartland Blood Center in their hometown of Tinley Park.

“It is important for me to try to help others,” Barrett said. “Donating blood is easy to do and does not take much time and can make a difference in an emergency situation.”

AYM Moderator, Jen Williams encourages all students to donate blood twice of year if they are able. “Blood drives at our high schools are crucial to a safe and adequate blood supply because they get young people involved in community service and the ever-constant need of blood donation,” says Williams. “Statistically, if someone starts donating blood in high school they are much more likely to continue to donate throughout their lifetime.”

Jack Barrett says this is something him and his sister plan on doing in years to come if not through their entire life. “As long as I am able to donate, I will donate blood for the rest of my life,” Barrett said.

A wide diversity of blood donors is necessary to maintain a safe and sufficient blood supply. It takes about an hour to give one pint of whole blood. Blood transfusion can do more than save a life, it can provide hope and renewed energy for those who battle a chronic blood disorder, or undergo cancer and surgical treatments.

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Kathleen E. Kennedy
Director of Communications