Blood drive in September by OneBlood and the Eagles Battalion. {courtesy JROTC}
By Bryan Boggiano
Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s JROTC, Eagles Batallion 5, is gearing up to save lives in the community by hosting a blood drive.
Members of the community who want to donate must bring identification and park in front of the school. Donors will receive a guest pass at the front office, where a JROTC member will escort them to the senior parking lot.
Potential donors must be at least 16 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.
Similar to the September drive, battalion S5 Ji Ying Chen and Joni Barret of OneBlood are coordinating the event.
Barret said in an email that each high school in the community has a committee that coordinates blood drives. The committees share information and educate their peers and faculty about the importance and safety of blood donations.
For Chen, involving the community is essential, especially as COVID cases remain elevated as a result of the Omicron variant.
“We feel like there are many people in the community who would like to donate but aren’t given the opportunity, especially since COVID hit,” he said in an email. “We wish to be that platform that allows them to donate blood to this community.”
Held on Tuesday, Jan. 25, from 7:40 a.m. until 2:40 p.m. at the school.
Send your news to Parkland’s #1 news source, Parkland Talk.