According to Blood Center of the Pacific, “One pint of blood can save up to three lives.”

National Honor Society will be holding a blood drive held by the Heartland Center on Monday, May 12.

“The blood is given to all the community hospitals so when there’s an accident or they need blood, they have it on hand,” NHS sponsor Mrs. Angela Ohlenkamp said.

NHS holds a couple of blood drives each school year. This blood drive, however, will be the first to include others besides senior NHS volunteers.

“There will be the senior and the new NHS junior members working together to pull off the blood drive this time,” Mrs. Ohlenkamp said.

Mrs. Ohlenkamp and NHS will strive to beat their goal of getting 171 units of blood donated. They would also like to have at least 20 double red donations. Double red donations are where plasma is donated as well.

“Usually we’re really close to our goal or we surpass it,” Mrs. Ohlenkamp said.

Senior Katie McNiece, a routine blood donator who has donated at least three or four times, encourages all those who are able to donate at the drive.

“It doesn’t hurt, doesn’t take much of your time and it saves lives,” McNiece said.

Along with the satisfaction of helping out, all blood drive participants will receive a free t-shirt.

“The free stuff at the end are great. I got sweatpants and of course saving lives is great too. It’s not scary. The people [taking your blood] are really nice,” McNiece said.

Requirements to donate blood

16 years old with parent signature

17 years old otherwise

110 pounds

No piercings or tattoos in the past year.