By Jennifer Ward
Purchase College's blood drive is one of the quickest and easiest ways to give blood. So why is nobody showing up?
For about 12 years now, Purchase has run a blood drive on campus. For two days this month in the small gym, anyone was able to give blood.
“It’s a quick and painless easy thing to do,” Kate Hageman, Purchase residence coordinator said, while giving blood.
Yet the gym remained mostly empty, with just a few staff members as well as around half a dozen students there to give blood.
“We consider at least 35 pints a successful blood drive,” said Tina Rivera, account manager for Purchase and New York Blood Center. “We try to get at least 50 appointments, however, we’ve only gotten 20.”
Not many people seem to be keen on the idea of donating blood during the pandemic, seemingly believing it is unsafe. Rivera reassures those interested in donating blood not to hesitate if that is your reasoning because the process is safe and a donor would have nothing to worry about COVID-wise.
“Because of COVID, many people have not come back to donate,” Rivera said. “We are dependent on colleges, high schools, and religious organizations to help the blood drive fill up the inventory.”
There is a major shortage of blood donations not just in New York, but all across the United States. The need for blood is endless. Getting the word spread and people out there donating is the biggest issue.
“A long time ago I read that there are a lot of people who don’t donate who are eligible to,” said Hageman. “It is kind of a community service.”
Frequent blood donor and pre-med major Esteban Martinez-Vila said, “It’s just blood being taken out in hopes that someone else can use it. That’s as far as it goes.”
The blood from the center here at Purchase mostly goes toward a cancer ward in the hospital.
“When I look into their eyes it’s like what I do really does make a difference,” Rivera said. “Think of a job you can actually save somebody’s life. A lot of the times I say ‘When was the last time you saved a life?’”
Donating blood here on campus, or at any blood center near is a simple and easy process that can easily save somebody’s life.
Rivera said, “You shouldn’t wait until it affects you personally within your family.”