Every year, the WS Key Club hosts a blood drive through
INOVA. This year, despite last-minute panic, Spartans were
able to donate 56 pints of blood with more than 70 donors.
“This is my 10th year sponsoring and we’ve been doing
blood drives since before I started,” said technology teacher
and Key Club sponsor JT Alukonis.
This year, two days before the blood drive, Alukonis contracted
food poisoning and was unable to oversee the blood
drive in person.
On very short notice, the Key Club officers had to scramble
to do the final prep work the day before the drive. After
a month of planning, advertising, putting together forms,
coordinating with INOVA, and making appointments for donors,
Alukonis had to leave the blood drive itself completely
student-run.
“The communication with Mr. A did not work out at first,”
said Key Club Secretary Kipper Whittley. “Luckily, the right
officers were chosen for the job and we were able to successfully
run the blood drive without Mr. A.”
It was not, however, just a group of students running
around helping donors fill out forms and nurses draw blood.
Coach Bill Gibson filled in for Alukonis for the day to supervise
the volunteers.
“They really took charge. Mr. A would be proud,” said
Gibson. “We’ve had a good turnout. I’m surprised to see so
many kids.”
Donors were students age 16 and older who had to weigh
at least 110 pounds; all of the volunteers were members of
Key Club. The workers from INOVA appreciated all the help
they could get.
“It’s a great experience for students to volunteer,” said
phlebotomist Lori Rusterucci. “Sometimes it can be confusing
but if you know what you’re doing, it can work.”
As high-schoolers, it is easy to make mistakes with unfamiliar
processes, but all around everything ran smoothly.
“I think [the volunteers] should be adults, but it’s good for
the students to get the experience as part of an organization
that gives,” said junior Isabella Deza, a Key Club volunteer.
The blood drive offers a unique experience for all participants
and the donors left with a fresh perspective on donating
blood.
“It’s good to start young. I’ll probably be giving blood and
donating for the rest of my life,” said junior Stefanie Takenaka.
Although it is possible to have a negative reaction when
one gives blood and a few people have been known to faint,
for most donors it was an exciting experience and to benefit
a good cause.
“I hate needles and getting shots,” said one donor, junior
Rachel Steele. “But it’s worth it because you’re saving someone’s
life.