Middle school to hold blood drive

By Elise Franco

Some pupils who recruit family and friends to attend the blood drive will win tickets to a special Cleveland Cavaliers event .

CANFIELD — Canfield Village Middle School pupils may not be old enough to donate blood, but they know people who are.

From 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 23, the American Red Cross will have a blood drive in the middle school gymnasium.

It will be the fourth year for a drive at Canfield Middle School.

Wednesday morning, Tim Wennerstrom, Red Cross educational coordinator, talked to kids in grades five through eight about the importance of donating blood.

“There are people your own age and younger who receive blood on a daily basis,” he said, of why those who can’t donate should still get involved. “We were here today to give general blood education and [talk about] the importance of donating.”

Wennerstrom said informing kids who are under age 17 on why it’s important to donate will keep them thinking about it for the future.

“Research has shown that the earlier kids are exposed to the process, the more likely they are to donate when they’re able,” he said.

To donate, a person must be 17 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health.

He said pupils can do their part by using their new knowledge of blood donation to convince anyone they know who fits that criteria to come to the March 23 drive.

“If you just mention to them why it’s so important, people might be more willing to donate,” Wennerstrom said. “Tell them that every one person who donates helps out three people.”

Keith Peterson, 15, said he plans to recruit as many people as he can because blood donation hits close to home.

“My step-dad had cancer when he was little,” he said. “He needed blood then, and I think this will be a nice way to return the favor.”

Peterson said he plans to ask those who may be wary at first: “If you were in the hospital and needed blood, wouldn’t you want someone to donate?’”

He said as soon as he turns 17, he will start donating blood. “I just think more people should do it,” Peterson said.

His classmate, Matt Ben, 14, said he also wants to donate when he’s old enough.

“It’s a good thing because it helps people who are sick or hurt feel better,” he said.

Regina Reynolds, school nurse, said the assembly gave pupils a wider scope of knowledge than they may have had before.

“It’s really important for middle-schoolers to realize there’s more than just them in the world,” she said.

Reynolds said last year’s drive brought in between 35 and 40 people, and they’re hoping for more this year.

“A lot of the teachers give, actually,” she said.

Wennerstrom said letters about the blood drive will be mailed to parents and guardians starting next week. Enclosed are cards to be mailed back to the school stating how many people each particular child plans to bring to the drive.

After the cards are sent back, Wennerstrom said Reynolds will randomly select several pupils’ names to receive tickets to a special event at Quicken Loans Arena on March 17. He said the Red Cross, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, organized the event.

“Kids who are chosen get to go down on the court and shoot baskets, and they’re introduced to the crowd as an American Red Cross Hero,” Wennerstrom said. “It’s a great incentive and a great experience.”

He said this is a way for the kids to see the people they look up to do a good thing. “It’s good for a student to see his or her parent as a hero,” Wennerstrom said.

efranco@vindy.com