CONTINENTAL
— This past weekend, two incoming high school seniors in Continental
took it upon themselves to address a national crisis, to make a
difference, to help save lives.
For months, the American Red Cross
has issued alerts advising of a critical blood shortage throughout the
nation, and requesting assistance in replenishing reserves. Recently,
Kennedy Hiltner and Mackenzie Rayle heeded that call, and organized a
blood drive in Continental.
Pulling up to the Continental Fire
Department late Saturday morning, the big bay doors were open, and
folding chairs, occupied by prospective donors, were placed in neat
lines beside one of the department’s engines. Kennedy and three young
volunteers worked a folding table loaded with snacks and beverages.
Mackenzie, at the time, was off running an errand, picking up supplies
for the drive. After she returned, the two teens spoke briefly about the
why, how, and what of the event.
“I gave blood back in May, and we talked to a rep, and she said there’s a huge blood shortage,” Kennedy remarked, expounding on the impetus for the blood drive. “I didn’t know, but a (car) crash could take up to one hundred units of blood.”
Along
with an understanding of the need, the conversation with that
representative of the American Red Cross revealed not only the
opportunity to help others, but, to a small degree — and only possibly —
themselves.
“This is a program Red Cross has that’s really
awesome,” Kennedy explained. “Leaders Save Lives. When we meet our goal,
they put us in a scholarship opportunity.”
Through Leaders Save
Lives, the Red Cross encourages teens to hold blood drives in their
communities, but only when school is out, during summer and winter
breaks. By hitting established targets — there are three levels — those
who choose to engage will receive a gift card and have a shot at a
scholarship.
“We just need 25 people to donate, and then we’ll get
entered into the scholarship raffle,” Mackenzie said. “We got a super
big rush first thing in the morning, so we’re hopeful.”
By noon,
and with three hours left before the drive rolled down the doors and
closed up for the day, nearly 20 donors had made their way through, this
despite a confirmed total of 23 reservations.
At the end of the day, the numbers were close, but the two hit their mark and a little bit more, bagging 29 units of blood.
“The
process is really easy, and I encourage a lot more people to do it,”
Kennedy said. “So many more people could set these things up, and get so
much more blood.”
While the two acknowledged having put some time
into the process, both recognized that without the support of their
local community — the residents and businesses — the effort would likely
have had a different result.
“Continental really helped us out
with this,” Kennedy said. “So many people personally know us — like our
volleyball coach, our lifting coach, our teachers — they came in and
they just helped us. We really appreciate that so much.”
For
more information about the Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program, visit
www.redcrossblood.org/hosting-a-blood-drive/learn-about-hosting/why-host-a-blood-drive/leaders-save-lives.html