By Brielle Ballantine
Editor-In-Chief

The National Honor Society is holding their annual blood drive on Dec. 7, through out the school day. Students and teachers who have signed up for the drive will go to the gym during their reserved time slot.

The drive will be held from 7:15a.m – 12 p.m in Gym 1. Students of staff set a certain time of the day where they come down to the gym, wait for their turn and then go through a brief screening process. Only students who are over the age of 16 and weigh at least 110 pounds can participate.

Once the screening process is completed and the student is cleared, they are to just lay down, relax and then donate blood all within a one hour time period. After, students are offered free snacks and drinks before returning to class. Since the day is shortened due to Keystone testing, any seniors who decide to donate after school also get free Chick Fil-A, as well.

So far, Neshaminy has held a number of blood drives over the years and each time they have been successful. “The Red Cross has been very appreciative of the donations by the Neshaminy students and faculty at past blood drives,” senior and Treasure of the National Honor Society, Kelly Larson said. “Neshaminy’s blood drive alone in the spring of 2012 supplied the Red Cross with 25 percent of the transfusions locally that day. More than thirty-eight thousand blood donations are needed every day in the US. In having another blood drive, the Honors Society would like to help do our part in helping patients who need these donations.”

The blood drive is hitting home with some students, causing a good turn out year after year. “When I was in 4th grade my mom almost died because a surgery she had went wrong where she lost more than half of the blood in her body,” Junior Alli Dukes said. “If it wasn’t for blood donations, she could have died. So ever since then, I’ve wanted to return the favor.”

Some students are donating just for the mere fact of being able to know that they’re helping three people with one pint of their blood. “I’m donating blood simply because I can’t find a reason not to,” senior and Vice President of National Honor Society, Jake Kramer said. “I have no problem giving up an hour of my day and getting one needle if it means providing blood to patients who desperately need it and saving three lives.”

So far, there has been only 65 donors signed up for the drive; the Nation Honor Society plans to increase this number to reach their goal of 300 by continuously advertising the drive. For any student who hasn’t signed up but is still interested, recruiters will be set up during all lunch periods, before school, during homeroom and outside the junior class meetings.

One pint of blood will help three people, help the cause and sign up. “If you are eligible to donate, you should do it. Someone will always be thankful no matter how many times you donate,” Dukes said.

National Honor Socity blood drive permission form: http://www.neshaminy.org/Page/945