Jeff Sandstoe / Roundup
The American Red Cross will be hosting a Blood Drive in the Great Hall Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In previous years, the Red Cross had a donation van come to Pierce. Although mobile and easy to set up, it also presented problems; its lack of size forced students to wait in line, often under a blaring sun.
“With the donation van, we could only admit two people every 20 minutes,” said Mynor Arroyo, an associate for the American Red Cross. “Now that we will be located in the Great Hall, we will be able to up that to four or five donators every 20 minutes.”
There will be free pizza provided for students who donate, according to Amr Abushami, chair of ASO’s Public Welfare committee and the student behind the planning of the blood drive. Free T-shirts will also be given away.
Large video screens will provide entertainment for students while they are waiting to donate, Abushami said.
Pierce College will be competing against other Los Angeles Community College District community colleges in the in the Red Cross’ new “Campus Challenge.”
The school that donates the most units of blood will be crowned the winner and will receive a trophy inscribed with the school’s name, the total units of blood donated and the total number of lives saved.
“Each donation saves approximately three lives,” Arroyo said.
The donation day goal for the Red Cross will be 42 units of blood.
Valley College has currently donated 62 units of blood, according to Abushami.
“I really want to beat them,” he said.
“The average donation time is between 30 to 45 minutes,” Arroyo said. “Students usually say after donating that the worst part is the finger prick at the beginning.”
Oct. 29 will be the first day Pierce participates in the event.
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