Unity Blood Drive returns to Carroll
Two years after the COVID-19 shutdown, the spring blood drive at Carroll High School has returned to the familiar ground of the Patriot gym.
The “Unity” blood drive on March 23 marked the sixth annual “Unity in the Community” campaign with rival Chaminade Julienne High School.
The closing of schools in March of 2020 meant cancelling proms and graduations, and at Carroll the school musical Bye Bye, Birdie, But Carroll re-opened the gym on the final day of virtual classes to reschedule the school blood drive. As the pandemic continued, Carroll shifted blood drives to Bloodmobiles.
“It’s our first indoors since 2020,” said science teacher and blood drive coordinator Laura Wright. “It makes it easier to come and go from classes when it’s down here.”
Wednesday’s return to the gym marked a step toward traditional collection goals. There were 70 donors, a 49% improvement from the 2021 spring blood drive, and 54 donations. The 44 first-time donors more than doubled the number of new donors from a year ago.
The annual “Unity in the Community” campaign is a partnership between Community Blood Center, Universal 1 Credit Union, and rivals Carroll and CJ. The schools host Unity blood drives and alternate choosing a charity to receive the Unity Award sponsored by Universal 1.
The sixth annual Unity in the Community campaign began with CJ’s Feb. 25 “Drop of Love” blood drive. It totaled 71 donors, 64 donations and 39 first-time donors.
Carroll will choose the recipient of the $1,000 Unity Award, which will be presented at an upcoming Carroll-CJ basketball game.
Freshmen Addy Westerfield and Sam Smith volunteered to organize the Carroll Unity blood drive. They found sponsors to donate pizza, donuts and cookies and directed volunteers.
“People signed up, that’s something we do here a lot,” said Addy. “So, everyone signed up to donate blood.”
“I’m always looking for opportunities to lead and serve the community,” said Sam. “It’s a very good cause. I also want to donate blood next year when I’m old enough to donate.”
“My mom is a pharmacist, she donates, and she’s always encouraging me and my brothers to donate,” said junior Nadia Severt. “It helps people and it’s a good cause.”
Junior Jacob Ruef Setting set a good example for new donors by making his fourth lifetime donation on Wednesday.
“My great-grandfather had a plaque downtown for donating a large amount of blood,” said Jacob. “It was really cool to see how big an impact he had and how many people he helped.”
Junior Brooke Close made her first donation Wednesday with a goal in mind. “Red Cord!” she said, about the CBC Red Cord Honor program for students who register to donate at least three times in their high school years. “It shows accomplishment in the blood drive and helping people.”
Patriots find new value in ending COVID-19 year with blood drive
COVID-19 precautions shut-down Carroll High School in early March. Classes continued online, but there was no prom, no spring sports, and saddest yet for seniors, no in-person graduation. As schools closed, all Community Blood Center high school blood drives were canceled, but Ryan Ballou '21 decided that COVID-19 should not stop the school blood drive.
“I heard a lot about how we had a blood shortage in our county,” said Ryan, who has been the student blood drive coordinator of Carroll blood drives since his freshman year. “So, I reached out to Mrs. Laura Wright, our faculty blood drive coordinator, and asked her if there was any way we could still manage a blood drive.”
Carroll Principal Matt Sableski '91 gave his approval, and Carroll had less than a month to recruit donors. “At first I didn’t know,” said Wright. “I sent out an email and received a pretty good response. You know, the students’ schedules are pretty open right now!”
The blood drive came together on May 21 in the school gym on the last day of virtual classes. Students and parents filled all the appointments, totaling 56 donors and 47 blood donations.
“I was actually surprised when Mrs. Wright reached out to me” said senior Madeleine Sanders '20, who returned to Carroll to make her fourth lifetime donation.
Madeleine will work from her home for her summer job at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and she’s hoping for in-person classes at the University of Notre Dame in the fall. Seniors will be videotaped individually receiving their diplomas for a virtual graduation presentation in June.
“I was really hoping we could work out something so we could come back,” she said. “Now I see, with what’s going on, this is the best that was possible.”
Kenneth Smith '20 was one of several Carroll seniors who qualified for the CBC Red Cord Honor program with his third donation Thursday.
“I was hoping I’d still be able to get the third done, so I’m really glad,” said Kenneth. “’Senioritis’ hits differently when you're (taking virtual classes) in your own bedroom. It hits very differently!”
Margaret Ollier '21 was one of 15 first-time donors at Thursday’s blood drive. “I knew there was a need right now for people to donate blood,” she said. “I felt like if I was going to do it, it might as well be today.”
The timing of the blood drive on the final day of virtual classes was perfect for Donna Lawhorn '21. “I’m going to Texas tomorrow,” she said. “We’re going straight through without stopping. My grandpa lives in the middle of nowhere, so we figured we’d go and be somewhere else.”
Donna is not alone in feeling trapped by the pandemic. The long road trip will serve as an escape, and her donation gave her and her classmates a sense of purpose, and a final call to service as Carroll Patriots during a confusing time.
“I really think the COVID-19 outbreak has changed kind of how we value our relationships and what we take for granted in the world,” said Ryan Ballou. “Just seeing the same faces every day. I think it will change our entire mindset. Not only as students or kids but as a society, on really valuing those around us and what we have.”