Hofstra hosts biannual 12-hour blood drive
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Hofstra University hosted its blood drive for the Spring 2020 semester, coordinated by the Human Resources Office. Hofstra hosts two blood drives each year in collaboration with Long Island Blood Services, which acts as the exclusive provider of blood to the Northwell and Catholic Health System.
“We achieved our goal of 12,000 pints of blood donated since we’ve been hosting blood drives with Hofstra,” said account manager Doreen Fiscina. “We have been doing this at Hofstra for at least 30 years.”
Each semester, the Hofstra community comes together to donate blood and give back to the community. According to the university’s website, “close to 2,000 men, women and children in our community, including cancer, transplant and surgery patients, trauma victims, newborn babies and many others need blood transfusions each day. Since blood lasts only 42 days, area hospitals are in real need.” Many Hofstra students participate each semester during the 12-hour blood drive, with some returning to provide help.
“I’ve donated since I was 18,” said junior business economics major Jake Lepore. “I always like to do it every semester when I can. It’s important to donate because I know how many people require blood, especially daily blood transfusions. With my blood type, O+, I know people need it desperately.”
The multipurpose rooms are the home of the Hofstra blood drive each semester. Different rooms are set up to aid students in the process; one to determine students’ blood types, one with chairs and medical technicians set up to collect the blood and one with snacks and water to ensure students do not feel faint or ill after giving blood. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 75 with a minimum weight of 110 pounds can give blood, and the Hofstra community makes it abundantly clear that everyone who can donate, should donate.
Even those who cannot donate, due to health reasons or otherwise, still come together to help in any way they can. Sophomore music performance major Josie Gritton is a volunteer in the blood drive who can’t donate because she grew up in the United Kingdom, but still wants to help out. “Since I can’t donate, I want to give back in any way that I can. I want to make the process easier for those who are donating, and others who are working here,” Gritton said.
Hofstra continues to positively impact the community thanks to the many students and faculty who help out during these important blood drives. Students from all walks of life have donated and continue to donate, leaving a lasting impact on the workers and community they have helped.
“We’ve had so many athletes and student groups who have given their own personal time to come and help without expecting anything in return,” Fiscina said. “We usually collect anywhere from 600-750 pints of blood per academic year. The most gratifying thing about doing blood drives is that we are helping to save lives, and at the same time we are giving back to the community.”
