More than 100 students across St. Joseph’s two campuses lived the College’s mission last month by giving back to local communities through blood drives.
The 34 students, faculty and staff who donated blood Sept. 18 to the New York Blood Center (NYBC) at SJC Brooklyn helped more than 100 patients in area hospitals. At SJC Long Island, 105 members of the College community gave to NYBC on Sept. 24-25, helping to save as many as 315 lives.
“If you are healthy and prepared, it is important to donate blood to keep the local supplies up,” said frequent donor Brian Wasson, executive director of social media at St. Joseph’s College. “You never know when you, or someone close to you, might need it. Afterward, you have the satisfaction of knowing that a part of you will live on to save someone else. It is quite literally an investment in someone else’s future.”
Setting Records at SJC Long Island
Since SJC Long Island hosted its first blood drive in 2000, the campus has collected 4,840 pints of blood — that represents about 14,520 lives saved by the students, faculty and staff at just one of the College’s campuses.
“I served my country as a member of the armed forces, and giving blood is another way to support my country and community without hesitation,” said William Childers ’21, an organizational management major at SJC Long Island, who was one of 13 at the College to donate automated red blood cells (Alyx).
Since Executive Director of the Center for Student Involvement, Leadership and Multicultural Programming Bryan Gill became the SJC Long Island chair for blood drives in 2014, the campus has hosted 21 events, collecting 1,387 pints in the last five years alone.
“I am a donor myself, and I have always enjoyed working with the Blood Center and overseeing the blood drives on our campus,” Gill said. “It is so important to donate because each day, there is someone in need. You are also giving back to your community and to each other by giving blood.”
You have the satisfaction of knowing that a part of you will live on to save someone else. It is quite literally an investment in someone else’s future.” –SJC Executive Director of Social Media Brian Wasson
