Fox Chapel Area High School to host final blood drive of school year
Fox Chapel Area High School students need help giving the gift of life.
The students will host a blood drive 7:30 a.m. to 1:3o p.m. April 21 at 611 Field Club Road in O’Hara Township.
The school district has partnered with Vitalant for years. Vitalant staff members draw the blood and distribute it.
“What’s nice with Vitalant is everything stays local and helps local hospitals,” said Rachel Machen, drive coordinator and school counselor. “It’s been nice. In some blood drives, they will show you right on the bags where the blood’s going to go …It’s easy to help. Every donation saves three lives.”
The process takes about an hour including screening and blood draw. Donors must be at least 16.
Students can earn scholarships through the blood drive.
This coming event is the final blood drive for the 2021-22 school year.
The school earned Vitalant’s Blood Drive Hero award last year for its efforts.
According to the Vitalant website, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds.
Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac said it is important for the district to continue its tradition of giving the gift of life.
“Fox Chapel Area has a long history of hosting blood drives and supporting the needs of the community,” she said. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host them in our schools. It’s a great way for our students, our community, to be able to give back and support such a critical need in the community.”
Those who wish to make an appointment to donate can register online at donateblood.centralbloodbank.org.
Click “donor login” if you have donated with Vitalant or Central Blood Bank before or “new donor” if not. Use the group code HS010025 when scheduling.
Anyone who donates blood at a local donor center can ask for the donation to count toward Fox Chapel Area High School’s total using the code.
Those who cannot register online can call Vitalant at 412-209-7000 or the high school guidance office at 412-967-2445 or email rachel_machen@fcasd.edu.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.
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